Buffalo, N.Y. -- To ensure that all Western New Yorkers receive digital television broadcast signals once analog signals are discontinued (as of February 17, 2009), WNED and area broadcasters will join in two, two-minute “soft tests.” The tests will take place December 15 from 6:28-6:30 pm and January 15 from 7:58-8:00 pm.

During the tests, viewers still receiving analog signals over an antenna will see a phone number to call with questions. Knowledgeable volunteers will answer the phones from 6:28 to 8:30 pm on December 15 and from 7:58 to 10 pm on January 15. The phone bank will be physically located at the WNED Studios, but volunteers will include representatives from the various participating broadcasters: WGRZ, WIVB, WKBW, WNED, WNGS, WNLO, WNYB, WNYO, WPXJ and WUTV.

To date, Nielsen reports that 90 percent of TV sets in the Buffalo market are ready for digital transition and 10 percent are unready. Considering that some households have more than one television set, this means Buffalo television households are 82 percent completely ready, 10 percent partially ready, and 8 percent unready.

Only viewers with antenna reception and television sets with non-digital tuners need to take steps to continue to receive U.S. television signals. Anyone with a paid television service (via cable, satellite or phone lines), newer TV sets with built-in digital tuners or DTV converter boxes will automatically receive the new, digital signals.