WWAY (CW) · Channel 3.3
Full power TV station · Wilmington, North Carolina
WWAY is a full power over-the-air TV station affiliated with CW on virtual channel 3.3, licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina. Its signal is estimated to reach about 91 cities and towns within 80 miles.
About WWAY
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 700 kW effective radiated power, WWAY runs more power than 69% of full-power TV stations nationwide (median: 273 kW).
Its antenna sits 592 m above the average surrounding terrain, higher than 85% of full-power stations. Taller antennas see farther: this one's radio horizon is roughly 70 miles, beyond which the signal fades quickly.
We estimate a fair-or-better signal out to about 80 miles with an outdoor antenna. That area includes 91 cities and towns in our guide with about 868,000 residents, as far as Fayetteville, NC (75 miles).
WWAY shares its transmitter site with WECT (NBC), WSFX-TV (Fox) and W35EF-D. One antenna aimed at this site picks up all of them.
The nearest other CW station in our data is WPDE-TV in Florence, SC, 67 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
| Network | CW |
| Virtual channel | 3.3 |
| Station type | Full power (DTV) |
| City of license | Wilmington, NC |
| Tower location | 34.13167, -78.18778 |
| Effective radiated power | 700 kW |
| Antenna height (HAAT) | 592 m (1,943 ft) |
| FCC facility ID | 12033 |
| License status | Licensed |
Cities that can receive WWAY
Estimated with an outdoor antenna. Direction is from the city toward the tower.
| City | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling Spring Lakes, NC | 9.8 mi | 315° NW | Strong |
| Leland, NC | 12 mi | 224° SW | Strong |
| Oak Island, NC | 15 mi | 354° N | Strong |
| Wilmington, NC | 15 mi | 245° WSW | Strong |
| Silver Lake, NC | 16 mi | 266° W | Strong |
| Shallotte, NC | 16 mi | 46° NE | Strong |
| Long Beach, NC | 16 mi | 345° NNW | Strong |
| Myrtle Grove, NC | 18 mi | 269° W | Strong |
| Carolina Beach, NC | 18 mi | 292° WNW | Strong |
| Wrightsboro, NC | 19 mi | 235° SW | Strong |
| Masonboro, NC | 20 mi | 260° W | Strong |
| Seagate, NC | 20 mi | 255° WSW | Strong |
| Kings Grant, NC | 21 mi | 244° WSW | Strong |
| Murraysville, NC | 23 mi | 240° WSW | Good |
| Ogden, NC | 23 mi | 245° WSW | Good |
| Little River, SC | 30 mi | 54° NE | Good |
| Hampstead, NC | 32 mi | 239° WSW | Good |
| Burgaw, NC | 33 mi | 207° SSW | Good |
| Whiteville, NC | 33 mi | 116° ESE | Good |
| North Myrtle Beach, SC | 36 mi | 52° NE | Good |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 50 mi | 52° NE | Good |
| Red Hill, SC | 52 mi | 65° ENE | Good |
| Forestbrook, SC | 52 mi | 57° ENE | Good |
| Conway, SC | 53 mi | 67° ENE | Good |
| Socastee, SC | 56 mi | 56° NE | Good |
| Lumberton, NC | 58 mi | 125° SE | Good |
| Surfside Beach, SC | 58 mi | 51° NE | Good |
| Garden City, SC | 60 mi | 51° NE | Good |
| Clinton, NC | 60 mi | 173° S | Good |
| Jacksonville, NC | 61 mi | 225° SW | Good |
| Mullins, SC | 61 mi | 94° E | Good |
| Red Hill, SC | 62 mi | 81° E | Good |
| Murrells Inlet, SC | 63 mi | 50° NE | Good |
| Half Moon, NC | 63 mi | 221° SW | Good |
| Piney Green, NC | 64 mi | 231° SW | Good |
| Marion, SC | 69 mi | 92° E | Good |
| Dillon, SC | 70 mi | 106° ESE | Good |
| Hope Mills, NC | 72 mi | 143° SE | Fair |
| Mount Olive, NC | 74 mi | 185° S | Fair |
| Fayetteville, NC | 75 mi | 148° SSE | Fair |
Other network stations nearby
Frequently asked questions
Where is the WWAY transmitter tower?
WWAY broadcasts from a tower at 34.1317, -78.1878, near Bolivia, NC. It is licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina.
What channel is WWAY on?
WWAY appears as virtual channel 3.3 (3.3.1 and its subchannels) when you scan with an antenna, carrying CW.
How far does WWAY broadcast?
With an outdoor antenna, reception is usually workable up to about 80 miles from the tower, and possible in good conditions out to roughly 89 miles. Hills and buildings can shorten that.
How many people can watch WWAY with an antenna?
About 868,000 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 WWAY?
Open the live finder from your address to get the exact compass bearing to the WWAY tower, or use the table above if your city is listed.