KBMT (ABC) · Channel 12

Full-power stations are the main licensed broadcasters in a market. They may run the highest power from the tallest towers and are protected from interference, so they set the core of what you can receive.

At 26.3 kW effective radiated power, KBMT runs more power than 15% of full-power TV stations nationwide (median: 273 kW). Stations on VHF channels are licensed at much lower power than UHF stations to cover the same area, so a low figure does not always mean a weak signal.

Its antenna sits 305 m above the average surrounding terrain, higher than 30% of full-power stations. Taller antennas see farther: this one's radio horizon is roughly 52 miles, beyond which the signal fades quickly.

We estimate a fair-or-better signal out to about 54 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 43 cities and towns in our guide with about 464,000 residents, as far as Lake Charles, LA (41 miles).

KBMT shares its transmitter site with K36ID-D. One antenna aimed at this site picks up all of them.

The nearest other ABC station in our data is KVHP in Lake Charles, LA, 20 miles away. Viewers between the two can sometimes receive both.

ABC is one of the four big commercial broadcast networks. Local ABC affiliates carry the national morning, evening news and primetime schedule alongside their own local newscasts, and the network carries major sports such as NBA games.