TV channels & antenna towers in Chelsea, Alabama

Chelsea has 41 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 WOTM-LD, 4.4 miles to the NNW.

Open Chelsea in the live finder

41TV transmitters within 70 miles

8networks over the air

4.4 mito the closest tower

12,059population

Network channels in Chelsea

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
NBCWVTM-TVNBC	13	14 mi	317° NW	Good	Birmingham, AL
TLMWTBM-CDTelemundo	24	14 mi	316° NW	Fair	Birmingham, AL
FOXWBRCFox	6	14 mi	316° NW	Strong	Birmingham, AL
CBSWIATCBS	42	14 mi	315° NW	Strong	Birmingham, AL
IONWPXH-TVION	44	14 mi	315° NW	Strong	Hoover, AL
ABCWABMABC	68.2	14 mi	314° NW	Strong	Birmingham, AL
CWWTTOCW	21	14 mi	314° NW	Strong	Homewood, AL
ABCWBMA-LDABC	58	16 mi	296° WNW	Fair	Birmingham, AL
ABCWGWWABC	40.2	22 mi	34° NNE	Fair	Anniston, AL
TBNWTJP-TVTrinity	60	34 mi	18° NNE	Good	Gadsden, AL
CWWDBBCW	17	47 mi	282° WNW	Good	Bessemer, AL
TLMWBXM-CDTelemundo	15	57 mi	193° SSW	Poor	Selma, AL
TBNWMCF-TVTrinity	45	69 mi	159° SSE	Poor	Montgomery, AL

Over-the-air TV in Chelsea

Chelsea is a city of about 12,100 people in Alabama. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 41 licensed TV transmitters: 16 full-power, 7 Class A, 16 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 12 at good or strong strength.

19 of them are within 25 miles of Chelsea, 1 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 21 are more than 45 miles out. Six of the 13 network stations in range are licensed to Birmingham, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Birmingham's stations.

The strongest network signals here 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 (fair signal). 6 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 Chelsea

Point your antenna NW, at about 316°. The main network towers for Chelsea sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Seven network stations, WVTM-TV, WTBM-CD, WBRC, WIAT and WPXH-TV and others, transmit from the same tower site about 14 miles northwest of Chelsea (317° NW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Chelsea at fair strength or better, 70% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across three other directions.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Chelsea

The farthest main network tower for Chelsea is WABM (ABC), 14 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

WBRC is only 14 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 Chelsea

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 28; see all in the finder.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WOTM-LDLow power	4.4 mi	336° NNW	Good	Birmingham, AL
WVUAFull power	14 mi	315° NW	Good	Tuscaloosa, AL
WBUN-LPLow power	14 mi	314° NW	Fair	Birmingham, AL
WBIQFull power	14 mi	314° NW	Fair	Birmingham, AL
WUOA-LDTranslator	14 mi	314° NW	Fair	Birmingham, AL
WSWH-LDLow power	14 mi	314° NW	Fair	Birmingham, AL
WNHT-LDLow power	14 mi	314° NW	Fair	Birmingham, AL
W16DS-DClass A	14 mi	314° NW	Fair	Birmingham, AL
W18ET-DLow power	15 mi	303° WNW	Fair	Birmingham, AL
WOIL-LDLow power	25 mi	78° ENE	Fair	Talladega, AL
WSESFull power	47 mi	282° WNW	Good	Tuscaloosa, AL
WEAC-CDClass A	48 mi	66° ENE	Poor	Jacksonville, AL
WAXC-LDLow power	48 mi	124° SE	Poor	Alexander City, AL
WCIQFull power	48 mi	78° ENE	Fair	Mount Cheaha, AL
WJMY-CDClass A	50 mi	260° W	Poor	Tuscaloosa, AL
W25FC-DLow power	52 mi	312° NW	Poor	Jasper, AL
WDVZ-CDClass A	53 mi	256° WSW	Poor	Tuscaloosa, AL
WVUA-CDClass A	53 mi	256° WSW	Poor	Tuscaloosa/Northport, AL
WBIHFull power	57 mi	193° SSW	Good	Selma, AL
WCQT-LDLow power	59 mi	348° NNW	Poor	Cullman, AL
WSFG-LDTranslator	59 mi	294° WNW	Poor	Berry, AL
WQAP-LDLow power	65 mi	170° S	Poor	Montgomery, AL
WDSF-LDLow power	65 mi	170° S	Poor	Montgomery, AL
WAIQFull power	69 mi	163° SSE	Poor	Montgomery, AL
W30EL-DLow power	69 mi	159° SSE	Poor	Montgomery, AL

How Chelsea compares with the rest of Alabama

With 24 stations at fair strength or better, Chelsea ranks 7th of 314 places in Alabama: more than the typical Alabama town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 14 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, 11 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Chelsea: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 314° NW, the direction of WABM (ABC), 14 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 Chelsea, AL?

ABC is on channel 68.2 from WABM, broadcasting from 14 miles NW of Chelsea. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CBS in Chelsea, AL?

CBS is on channel 42 from WIAT, broadcasting from 14 miles NW of Chelsea. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is NBC in Chelsea, AL?

NBC is on channel 13 from WVTM-TV, broadcasting from 14 miles NW of Chelsea. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Chelsea, AL?

Fox is on channel 6 from WBRC, broadcasting from 14 miles NW of Chelsea. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Chelsea, AL?

CW is on channel 21 from WTTO, broadcasting from 14 miles NW of Chelsea. Estimated signal: strong.

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

41 transmitters within 70 miles of Chelsea; 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 Chelsea?

Point your antenna NW, at about 316°. The main network towers for Chelsea sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Chelsea?

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 Chelsea?

WBRC is only 14 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 Chelsea?

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 Chelsea; signal estimates ignore terrain.