TV channels & antenna towers in Bessemer, Alabama

Bessemer has 36 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 24 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WBMA-LD (ABC), 4.9 miles to the NE.

Open Bessemer in the live finder

36TV transmitters within 70 miles

8networks over the air

4.9 mito the closest tower

26,730population

Network channels in Bessemer

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
ABCWBMA-LDABC	58	4.9 mi	56° NE	Good	Birmingham, AL
ABCWABMABC	68.2	10 mi	56° NE	Strong	Birmingham, AL
CWWTTOCW	21	10 mi	56° NE	Strong	Homewood, AL
CBSWIATCBS	42	10 mi	56° ENE	Strong	Birmingham, AL
IONWPXH-TVION	44	10 mi	56° ENE	Strong	Hoover, AL
TLMWTBM-CDTelemundo	24	11 mi	56° NE	Good	Birmingham, AL
FOXWBRCFox	6	11 mi	56° NE	Strong	Birmingham, AL
NBCWVTM-TVNBC	13	11 mi	56° NE	Good	Birmingham, AL
CWWDBBCW	17	28 mi	281° WNW	Good	Bessemer, AL
ABCWGWWABC	40.2	34 mi	65° ENE	Fair	Anniston, AL
TBNWTJP-TVTrinity	60	41 mi	45° NE	Good	Gadsden, AL
TLMWBXM-CDTelemundo	15	60 mi	174° S	Poor	Selma, AL

Over-the-air TV in Bessemer

Bessemer, Alabama has a population of about 26,700. Our map shows 36 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 14 full-power, 7 Class A, 13 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 24 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 17 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 17 transmitters are within 25 miles, 10 between 25 and 45 miles, and 9 farther out. Six of the 12 network stations in range are licensed to Birmingham, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Birmingham's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 68.2 (WABM), CBS on channel 42 (WIAT), NBC on channel 13 (WVTM-TV), Fox on channel 6 (WBRC), CW on channel 21 (WTTO), ION on channel 44 (WPXH-TV), Telemundo on channel 24 (WTBM-CD) and Trinity on channel 60 (WTJP-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (good signal). 5 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Which way to point your antenna in Bessemer

Point your antenna NE, at about 56°. The main network towers for Bessemer sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Seven network stations, WABM, WTTO, WIAT, WPXH-TV and WTBM-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 10 miles northeast of Bessemer (56° NE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Bessemer at fair strength or better, 90% arrive from the northeast; the rest are spread across one other direction.

All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Bessemer, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

Antenna and amplifier advice for Bessemer

The farthest main network tower for Bessemer is WVTM-TV (NBC), 11 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

WABM is only 10 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.

Other stations near Bessemer

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
W18ET-DLow power	7.2 mi	56° NE	Good	Birmingham, AL
W16DS-DClass A	10 mi	56° NE	Fair	Birmingham, AL
WBUN-LPLow power	10 mi	56° NE	Good	Birmingham, AL
WBIQFull power	10 mi	56° NE	Fair	Birmingham, AL
WUOA-LDTranslator	10 mi	56° NE	Good	Birmingham, AL
WSWH-LDLow power	10 mi	56° NE	Good	Birmingham, AL
WNHT-LDLow power	10 mi	56° NE	Fair	Birmingham, AL
WVUAFull power	10 mi	56° ENE	Good	Tuscaloosa, AL
WOTM-LDLow power	17 mi	91° E	Fair	Birmingham, AL
WSESFull power	28 mi	281° WNW	Good	Tuscaloosa, AL
WJMY-CDClass A	34 mi	247° WSW	Fair	Tuscaloosa, AL
WDVZ-CDClass A	37 mi	243° WSW	Weak	Tuscaloosa, AL
WVUA-CDClass A	37 mi	243° WSW	Weak	Tuscaloosa/Northport, AL
W25FC-DLow power	37 mi	327° NNW	Weak	Jasper, AL
WSFG-LDTranslator	40 mi	300° WNW	Poor	Berry, AL
WOIL-LDLow power	43 mi	89° E	Poor	Talladega, AL
WCQT-LDLow power	54 mi	7° N	Poor	Cullman, AL
WSSF-LDLow power	54 mi	291° WNW	Poor	Fayette, AL
WBIHFull power	60 mi	174° S	Good	Selma, AL
WEAC-CDClass A	64 mi	76° ENE	Poor	Jacksonville, AL
WCIQFull power	66 mi	85° E	Fair	Mount Cheaha, AL
WAXC-LDLow power	66 mi	118° ESE	Poor	Alexander City, AL
WEEL-LDLow power	67 mi	259° W	Poor	Tuscaloosa, AL
W32EQ-DLow power	69 mi	253° WSW	Poor	Tuscaloosa, AL

How Bessemer compares with the rest of Alabama

With 24 stations at fair strength or better, Bessemer ranks 7th of 314 places in Alabama: more than the typical Alabama town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 4.9 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.

29% of Alabama's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Hoover, 8.3 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Bessemer: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 56° NE, the direction of WVTM-TV (NBC), 11 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
Expect around 24 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Bessemer, AL?

ABC is on channel 68.2 from WABM, broadcasting from 10 miles NE of Bessemer. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CBS in Bessemer, AL?

CBS is on channel 42 from WIAT, broadcasting from 10 miles ENE of Bessemer. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is NBC in Bessemer, AL?

NBC is on channel 13 from WVTM-TV, broadcasting from 11 miles NE of Bessemer. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Bessemer, AL?

Fox is on channel 6 from WBRC, broadcasting from 11 miles NE of Bessemer. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Bessemer, AL?

CW is on channel 21 from WTTO, broadcasting from 10 miles NE of Bessemer. Estimated signal: strong.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Bessemer?

36 transmitters within 70 miles of Bessemer; around 24 of them are likely to be receivable with indoor antenna. Each station usually carries several subchannels, so the total channel count after a scan is higher.

Which direction should I point my TV antenna in Bessemer?

Point your antenna NE, at about 56°. The main network towers for Bessemer sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Bessemer?

Indoor antenna (up to ~25 miles). The main towers are close. A flat indoor antenna near a window facing the towers should pull in the major networks.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Bessemer?

WABM is only 10 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Bessemer?

Yes. The free RCA Signal Finder app for iPhone and Android uses your phone's GPS and compass to show which way each tower is from where you stand.

TV channels in nearby Alabama cities

More: all TV stations in Alabama · South region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bessemer; signal estimates ignore terrain.