WKBS-TV (ION) · Channel 47.4

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 3.1 kW effective radiated power, WKBS-TV runs more power than 2% 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 23 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 27 cities and towns in our guide with about 101,000 residents, as far as Altoona, PA (4.1 miles).

WKBS-TV shares its transmitter site with WTAJ-TV (CBS) and WATM-TV (ABC). One antenna aimed at this site picks up all of them.

The nearest other ION station in our data is WINP-TV in Pittsburgh, PA, 80 miles away. Viewers between the two can sometimes receive both.

ION Television is a commercial network built around crime and procedural drama series, with some live sports. It is carried free over the air in most large markets.