Consumer awareness of the nationwide transition to digital television (DTV) is reaching a near-universal level, according to a new national survey released by NAB.

A telephone survey of 4,402 households found 92 percent of American households were aware that broadcast television will switch to all-digital broadcasting, up from 90 percent reported in NAB's May 2008 survey. Every full-power television station in the country must begin broadcasting only in digital by February 17, 2009.

Awareness of the transition date also jumped sharply among households that rely exclusively on free, over-the-air television, 67 percent of which could state the correct date – a 26-point increase from 41 percent reported in May.

"The upward trend in consumer awareness of the DTV transition shows that broadcasters' persistence is paying off," said Jonathan Collegio, NAB vice president for the DTV transition. "Our job now is to help Americans prepare earlier rather than later to ensure no one loses reception."

Half of the broadcast-only households surveyed have already done one or more of the following: purchased a digital TV set or converter box, or applied for a government-issued converter box coupon. The poll was conducted September 28 - October 5, 2008, by SmithGeiger LLC with a margin of sampling error of +/- 2.4 percent.