KNBN (NBC) · Channel 21

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 50 kW effective radiated power, KNBN runs more power than 27% 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 211 m above the average surrounding terrain, higher than 10% of full-power stations. Taller antennas see farther: this one's radio horizon is roughly 45 miles, beyond which the signal fades quickly.

We estimate a fair-or-better signal out to about 49 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 13 cities and towns in our guide with about 129,000 residents, as far as Rapid City, SD (1.2 miles).

KNBN shares its transmitter site with KKRA-LD and KWBH-LD. One antenna aimed at this site picks up all of them.

The nearest other NBC station in our data is KULR-TV in Billings, MT, 279 miles away. Viewers between the two can sometimes receive both.

NBC is one of the four big commercial broadcast networks. Local NBC affiliates carry the national morning show, evening news and primetime lineup, plus Sunday Night Football and, in Olympic years, the Games.