About Detroit Public TV

WTVS Detroit Public Television is the viewer-supported PBS member station serving the nation's 11th largest television market.

We operate on digital channel 43 (virtual subchannels 56.1, 56.2,and 56.3), and are carried on cable and satellite systems throughout Southeast Michigan and over a thousand communities in Canada. Channel numbers on these systems vary for WTVS and its subchannels.

Our vision is to educate, entertain and inspire, in partnership with our community.

We offer ten hours of PBS KIDS programs each weekday, along with national and international news, PBS favorites and classic films.

Our digital subchannels offer additional scheduling of public TV programming on 56.2 and how-to and travel programs on 56.3 Create.

Detroit Public TV is notably active in the community producing local programs that showcase arts, culture, news analysis and physical activity; and outreach campaigns that use the power of media to provide knowledge and understanding.

Detroit Public Television is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. DPTV is licensed under the name Detroit Educational Television Foundation WTVS-Channel 56 in Detroit, and operates under the names DPTV, Detroit Public TV, Channel 56, and WTVS and www.dptv.org.

Services Provided

At Detroit Public Television, we believe in putting our local community first. That's why we partner with organizations, businesses and individuals to help them achieve their goals.

If you had a TV station, what could it do for you? Email us at email@dptv.org with your thoughts.

Digital Television

Digital Coverage Map

Map Key:*
White = extremely strong
Red-yellow-green = quite strong
Cyan = advisable to move the antenna up to the second floor or attic
Blue = it's probably necessary to install a good antenna on the roof
Purple = quite weak

*Please understand that this is a simulation and can only be treated as a rough approximation. Reception at your location is affected by many factors such as multipath, antenna gain, receiver sensitivity, buildings, and trees - which are not taken into account. Your mileage may vary.

DPTV’s 3 Digital Channels

Many people who get a new High Definition TV (HDTV) are amazed at the new channels they receive free, over the air, including three from WTVS Detroit Public Television.

• 56.1 DPTV lets viewers watch the primary schedule of Channel 56, with the full variety of our programs, including most programs in high definition when available.
• 56.2 DPTV Plus* includes a repeat of many PBS programs, seen in different time slots for added convenience, as well as other special local and national programs of interest to our audience.
• 56.3 CREATE* is our 24-hour service of public television's most popular how-to shows, from cooking to crafting, to home improvement, to travel shows.

At Detroit Public Television, we want you to enjoy digital television.

*DPTV PLUS channel (over-the-air 56.2) can be seen on Comcast Channel 287, BrightHouse 155, Wyandotte Municipal Cable 144, and Charter (most systems) 432.
*DPTV CREATE channel (over the air 56.3) can be seen on Comcast Channel 288, BrightHouse 156, Wyandotte Municipal Cable 143, and Charter (most systems) 433.

If your cable, telco, or satellite company does not carry WTVS's additional channels, please let their customer services representatives know you want WTVS 56. 2 and 56.3 added to their lineup. Thanks to the companies that already do!

See what's on by checking our Digital Program Schedule.

Unable to find our DTV channel on your over-the-air digital receiver?

Occasionally a receiver may lose some of the channel information that is stored in its memory. If you are unable to tune to our digital channel 43 (virtual sub-channels 56.1, 56.2, or 56.3), go to the menu in your receiver and perform a channel scan. This should add the missing channel(s) and allow you to switch to our channel using your receiver's remote control.

How to Report Reception Difficulties

If you are watching our digital channel and have reception difficulties, please send a reception report to dtv@dptv.org. Please include:

• your location (or zip code),
• receiver/tuner brand and model,
• antenna type and location, and
• any other information that may be useful in our efforts to assist you with your reception difficulties.