With the transition to digital television (DTV) only four months away, NAB has released a new poll that shows significant increases in awareness among Hispanics and African-Americans.

In a national telephone survey of 4,402 households, 92 percent of Hispanic respondents were aware of the broadcast television industry's switch to all-digital TV, a four-point jump since NAB’s May survey. This number equals the national awareness level of 92 percent, which is considered to be nearly universal.

Transition awareness is even higher among Spanish-speaking Hispanic households at 95 percent, up considerably from 89 percent in May. African-American awareness of the DTV transition is also growing at 86 percent, up one point from May.

Both groups demonstrate substantial advances in depth awareness, including knowledge of the transition date and the available options for upgrading to DTV. More than half of both Hispanic (52 percent) and African-American (57 percent) respondents could state the correct transition date, marking considerable progress over the past 10 months.

Over-the-air minority households - among the transition’s most affected populations - are taking further advantage of the converter box option. Sixty-nine percent of Hispanic broadcast-only households have applied for a government coupon, shopped for or purchased a converter box, more than a two-fold jump from 29 percent in May. This number doubled for African-American broadcast-only homes at 64 percent, compared to 32 percent in May.

The survey was conducted September 28 – October 5 by SmithGeiger LLC and has a margin of sampling error of +/- 2.4 percent.