WAOW (ABC) · Channel 9

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 96.3 kW effective radiated power, WAOW runs more power than 38% 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 368 m above the average surrounding terrain, higher than 49% of full-power stations. Taller antennas see farther: this one's radio horizon is roughly 57 miles, beyond which the signal fades quickly.

We estimate a fair-or-better signal out to about 62 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 54 cities and towns in our guide with about 274,000 residents, as far as Stevens Point, WI (28 miles).

WAOW shares its transmitter site with WSAW-TV (CW) and WHRM-TV. One antenna aimed at this site picks up all of them.

The nearest other ABC station in our data is WMOW in Crandon, WI, 60 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.