The Metro Detroit region includes at least Wayne County, Oakland County and Macomb County, the name serves as a common but convenient shorthand for referring to suburban communities around Detroit, including Downriver as a whole.

The region is served by Metro Airport, which indicates that the suburban reach does indeed circle around the city proper into the Downriver area.

Downriver is in the Detroit Television Market, which of course includes Wayne, Oakland and Macomb but also Lapeer, Livingston, Monroe, Sanilac, Saint Clair and Washtenaw Counties.