As we approach the era of digital television, Nielsen research reports that around 6.5 million U.S. homes would see static on their TV's if the analog shutoff date was today.

This amounts to over 6.5 million households which is actually down from 7.8 million last month. Meanwhile, the Senate is reportedly close to a deal that would delay the DTV transition until June 12 from the current date of February 17.

Nielsen measured 56 local markets with electronic meters to find out which are the most and least prepared.

The most prepared market is Hartford & New Haven, with only 1.8 percent of homes not ready for the switch.

Among other markets with 97 percent or better DTV readiness: Atlanta, Philly, Boston, New York, and West Palm Beach, Florida.

Meanwhile, Albuquerque-Santa Fe, is the least prepared with 12.4 percent of the households completely unready.

Other markets on the bottom of the list are; New Mexico, with 12.24 percent, Dallas-Ft. Worth with 10.21 percent , Houston 9.95 percent, Tulsa 9.53 percent, and Portland, Oregon with 9.08 percent unprepared.

An overall survey of the age of users showed that 96 percent of households with viewers over 55 are ready for the switch. This was more than younger users as 8.8 percent of those 35-and-younger households—more than double the number of seniors— are unprepared for the transition.

The good news is that a greater portion of American households are ready, as 94.3 percent of U.S. households are prepared as of today.

Florida New York Marketing Switch