TV channels & antenna towers in Big Bear City, California

Big Bear City, California has a population of about 12,300. There are 88 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 25 full-power, 10 Class A, 29 low-power and 24 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 27 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 12 at good or strong strength.

8 of them are within 25 miles of Big Bear City, 40 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 40 are more than 45 miles out. Six of the 18 network stations in range are licensed to Los Angeles, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Los Angeles's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 7 (KABC-TV), CBS on channel 38 (KPSP-CD), NBC on channel 36 (KMIR-TV), Fox on channel 11 (KTTV), PBS on channel 58 (KLCS), CW on channel 5 (KTLA), ION on channel 30 (KPXN-TV), Telemundo on channel 52 (KVEA), Univision on channel 34 (KMEX-DT), MeTV on channel 54.1 (KAZA-TV) and Trinity on channel 40 (KTBN-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (good signal) and Univision (good signal). 12 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

The main network towers around Big Bear City are in different directions: ABC 268° W (70 mi), CBS 139° SE (36 mi), NBC 139° SE (36 mi), Fox 268° W (70 mi) and PBS 268° W (70 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Five network stations, KPSP-CD, KESQ-TV, KDFX-CD, KMIR-TV and KVER-CD, transmit from the same tower site about 36 miles southeast of Big Bear City (139° SE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 12 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Big Bear City at fair strength or better, 75% arrive from the west; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Big Bear City is KABC-TV (ABC), 70 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

At this distance a low-noise preamplifier mounted on the mast, right below the antenna, helps more than an amplifier near the TV. It boosts the signal before cable loss eats into it. See the amplifier guide.

With 27 stations at fair strength or better, Big Bear City ranks 488th of 1,078 places in California: more than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 32 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.

30% of California's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Yucaipa, 19 miles away.