CW

WBSF (CW) · Channel 46

Full power TV station · Bay City, Michigan

WBSF is a full power over-the-air TV station affiliated with CW on virtual channel 46, licensed to Bay City, Michigan. Its signal is estimated to reach about 172 cities and towns within 67 miles.

Aim your antenna at WBSF

About WBSF

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 600 kW effective radiated power, WBSF runs more power than 65% of full-power TV stations nationwide (median: 273 kW).

Its antenna sits 365 m above the average surrounding terrain, higher than 48% 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 67 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 172 cities and towns in our guide with about 3,070,000 residents, as far as Inkster, MI (67 miles).

WBSF shares its transmitter site with WEYI-TV (NBC). One antenna aimed at this site picks up all of them.

The nearest other CW station in our data is WLAJ in Lansing, MI, 49 miles away. Viewers between the two can sometimes receive both.

The CW is a commercial broadcast network carrying entertainment series and a growing slate of sports. In smaller markets it often runs as a subchannel of another station rather than its own transmitter.

Station facts

NetworkCW
Virtual channel46
Station typeFull power (DTV)
City of licenseBay City, MI
Tower location43.21694, -83.72139
Effective radiated power600 kW
Antenna height (HAAT)365 m (1,198 ft)
FCC facility ID82627
License statusLicensed

Cities that can receive WBSF

Estimated with an outdoor antenna. Direction is from the city toward the tower.

CityDistancePoint antennaEst. signal
Flint, MI14 mi353° NStrong
Burton, MI16 mi341° NNWStrong
Saginaw, MI18 mi140° SEStrong
Saginaw Township North, MI22 mi139° SEGood
Bay City, MI27 mi162° SSEGood
Midland, MI38 mi136° SEGood
Waterford, MI39 mi337° NNWGood
Auburn Hills, MI44 mi326° NWGood
Pontiac, MI45 mi332° NNWGood
West Bloomfield Township, MI48 mi339° NNWGood
Rochester Hills, MI48 mi323° NWGood
Okemos, MI49 mi46° NEGood
East Lansing, MI51 mi49° NEGood
Troy, MI51 mi326° NWGood
Shelby, MI51 mi318° NWGood
Novi, MI52 mi346° NNWGood
Farmington Hills, MI53 mi341° NNWGood
Lansing, MI54 mi51° NEGood
Waverly, MI56 mi54° NEGood
Sterling Heights, MI56 mi322° NWGood
Holt, MI57 mi45° NEGood
Southfield, MI57 mi334° NNWGood
Royal Oak, MI58 mi330° NNWGood
Mount Pleasant, MI59 mi116° ESEGood
Oak Park, MI59 mi333° NNWFair
Madison Heights, MI59 mi328° NNWFair
Clinton Township, MI59 mi317° NWFair
Redford, MI61 mi340° NNWFair
Livonia, MI62 mi342° NNWFair
Warren, MI62 mi325° NWFair
Roseville, MI64 mi322° NWFair
Westland, MI64 mi345° NNWFair
Canton, MI64 mi349° NFair
Eastpointe, MI65 mi323° NWFair
Garden City, MI65 mi342° NNWFair
Dearborn Heights, MI65 mi340° NNWFair
Ann Arbor, MI65 mi1° NFair
Saint Clair Shores, MI65 mi320° NWFair
Hamtramck, MI66 mi329° NNWFair
Inkster, MI67 mi342° NNWFair

Other network stations nearby

Frequently asked questions

Where is the WBSF transmitter tower?

WBSF broadcasts from a tower at 43.2169, -83.7214, near Clio, MI. It is licensed to Bay City, Michigan.

What channel is WBSF on?

WBSF appears as virtual channel 46 (46.1 and its subchannels) when you scan with an antenna, carrying CW.

How far does WBSF broadcast?

With an outdoor antenna, reception is usually workable up to about 67 miles from the tower, and possible in good conditions out to roughly 76 miles. Hills and buildings can shorten that.

How many people can watch WBSF with an antenna?

About 3,070,000 people live in the 172 cities and towns within its estimated fair-signal range, not counting rural residents between them.

Which way do I point my antenna for WBSF?

Open the live finder from your address to get the exact compass bearing to the WBSF tower, or use the table above if your city is listed.