WMBD-TV (CBS) · Channel 31
Full power TV station · Peoria, Illinois
WMBD-TV is a full power over-the-air TV station affiliated with CBS on virtual channel 31, licensed to Peoria, Illinois. Its signal is estimated to reach about 91 cities and towns within 56 miles.
About WMBD-TV
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 822 kW effective radiated power, WMBD-TV runs more power than 75% of full-power TV stations nationwide (median: 273 kW).
Its antenna sits 192 m above the average surrounding terrain, higher than 9% of full-power stations. Taller antennas see farther: this one's radio horizon is roughly 43 miles, beyond which the signal fades quickly.
We estimate a fair-or-better signal out to about 56 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 91 cities and towns in our guide with about 753,000 residents, as far as Galesburg, IL (49 miles).
The nearest other CBS station in our data is WCIA in Champaign, IL, 68 miles away. Viewers between the two can sometimes receive both.
CBS is one of the four big commercial broadcast networks. Local CBS affiliates carry the network's news, daytime and primetime schedule plus local news, and CBS is the over-the-air home of many NFL Sunday afternoon games.
Station facts
| Network | CBS |
| Virtual channel | 31 |
| Station type | Full power (DTV) |
| City of license | Peoria, IL |
| Tower location | 40.63500, -89.53861 |
| Effective radiated power | 822 kW |
| Antenna height (HAAT) | 192 m (631 ft) |
| FCC facility ID | 42121 |
| License status | Licensed |
Cities that can receive WMBD-TV
Estimated with an outdoor antenna. Direction is from the city toward the tower.
| City | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creve Coeur, IL | 2.9 mi | 107° ESE | Strong |
| East Peoria, IL | 3.1 mi | 135° SE | Strong |
| Marquette Heights, IL | 3.5 mi | 70° ENE | Strong |
| Morton, IL | 4.4 mi | 290° WNW | Strong |
| Peoria, IL | 4.8 mi | 147° SSE | Strong |
| Bartonville, IL | 6.0 mi | 100° E | Strong |
| West Peoria, IL | 6.1 mi | 130° SE | Strong |
| North Peoria, IL | 6.2 mi | 157° SSE | Strong |
| Pekin, IL | 7.1 mi | 49° NE | Strong |
| Peoria Heights, IL | 8.0 mi | 167° SSE | Strong |
| Washington, IL | 8.4 mi | 235° SW | Strong |
| Germantown Hills, IL | 9.8 mi | 202° SSW | Strong |
| Metamora, IL | 14 mi | 221° SW | Strong |
| Eureka, IL | 15 mi | 247° WSW | Strong |
| Chillicothe, IL | 20 mi | 188° S | Strong |
| Canton, IL | 27 mi | 78° ENE | Good |
| El Paso, IL | 28 mi | 255° WSW | Good |
| Normal, IL | 30 mi | 286° WNW | Good |
| Bloomington, IL | 30 mi | 290° WNW | Good |
| Lincoln, IL | 35 mi | 345° NNW | Good |
| Havana, IL | 36 mi | 50° NE | Good |
| Heyworth, IL | 37 mi | 307° NW | Good |
| Knoxville, IL | 43 mi | 116° ESE | Good |
| Clinton, IL | 45 mi | 318° NW | Good |
| Le Roy, IL | 45 mi | 296° WNW | Good |
| Abingdon, IL | 47 mi | 104° ESE | Good |
| Kewanee, IL | 47 mi | 154° SSE | Good |
| Galesburg, IL | 49 mi | 116° ESE | Fair |
| Streator, IL | 50 mi | 228° SW | Fair |
| Pontiac, IL | 51 mi | 251° WSW | Fair |
| Princeton, IL | 51 mi | 184° S | Fair |
| Spring Valley, IL | 51 mi | 200° SSW | Fair |
| Bushnell, IL | 51 mi | 83° E | Fair |
| Sherman, IL | 51 mi | 4° N | Fair |
| Oglesby, IL | 52 mi | 209° SSW | Fair |
| Peru, IL | 52 mi | 204° SSW | Fair |
| Deer Park, IL | 53 mi | 210° SSW | Fair |
| La Salle, IL | 54 mi | 206° SSW | Fair |
| Fairbury, IL | 54 mi | 262° W | Fair |
| Riverton, IL | 55 mi | 0° N | Fair |
Other network stations nearby
Frequently asked questions
Where is the WMBD-TV transmitter tower?
WMBD-TV broadcasts from a tower at 40.6350, -89.5386, near Creve Coeur, IL. It is licensed to Peoria, Illinois.
What channel is WMBD-TV on?
WMBD-TV appears as virtual channel 31 (31.1 and its subchannels) when you scan with an antenna, carrying CBS.
How far does WMBD-TV broadcast?
With an outdoor antenna, reception is usually workable up to about 56 miles from the tower, and possible in good conditions out to roughly 64 miles. Hills and buildings can shorten that.
How many people can watch WMBD-TV with an antenna?
About 753,000 people live in the 91 cities and towns within its estimated fair-signal range, not counting rural residents between them.
Which way do I point my antenna for WMBD-TV?
Open the live finder from your address to get the exact compass bearing to the WMBD-TV tower, or use the table above if your city is listed.