TV channels & antenna towers in El Rio, California

El Rio has 52 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW. About 28 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is K35PJ-D, 7.6 miles to the NW.

Open El Rio in the live finder

52TV transmitters within 70 miles

11networks over the air

7.6 mito the closest tower

7,198population

Network channels in El Rio

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
ABCKEYT-TVABC	3	50 mi	294° WNW	Good	Santa Barbara, CA
UNIKPMRUnivision	38	50 mi	294° WNW	Fair	Santa Barbara, CA
CBSKCBS-TVCBS	2	62 mi	90° E	Good	Los Angeles, CA
MeTVKDOC-TVMeTV	56.3	62 mi	90° E	Fair	Anaheim, CA
UNIKMEX-DTUnivision	34	63 mi	90° E	Good	Los Angeles, CA
IONKPXN-TVION	30	63 mi	90° E	Good	San Bernardino, CA
ABCKABC-TVABC	7	63 mi	90° E	Fair	Los Angeles, CA
CWKTLACW	5	63 mi	90° E	Good	Los Angeles, CA
TLMKVEATelemundo	52	63 mi	90° E	Good	Corona, CA
NBCKNBCNBC	4	63 mi	90° E	Good	Los Angeles, CA
FOXKTTVFox	11	63 mi	90° E	Fair	Los Angeles, CA
TBNKTBN-TVTrinity	40	63 mi	90° E	Good	Santa Ana, CA
PBSKLCSPBS	58	63 mi	90° E	Fair	Los Angeles, CA
MeTVKAZA-TVMeTV	54.1	63 mi	91° E	Poor	Avalon, CA

Over-the-air TV in El Rio

El Rio is a town of about 7,200 people in California. There are 52 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 26 full-power, 8 Class A, 14 low-power and 4 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 28 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 14 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 2 transmitters are within 25 miles, 11 between 25 and 45 miles, and 39 farther out. Seven of the 14 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.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 3 (KEYT-TV), CBS on channel 2 (KCBS-TV), NBC on channel 4 (KNBC), 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 56.3 (KDOC-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.

Which way to point your antenna in El Rio

The main network towers around El Rio are in different directions: ABC 294° WNW (50 mi), CBS 90° E (62 mi), NBC 90° E (63 mi), Fox 90° E (63 mi) and PBS 90° E (63 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

12 network stations, KCBS-TV, KDOC-TV, KMEX-DT, KPXN-TV and KABC-TV and others, transmit from the same tower site about 62 miles east of El Rio (90° E). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 13 full-power and Class A network signals that reach El Rio at fair strength or better, 85% arrive from the east; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for El Rio

The farthest main network tower for El Rio is KLCS (PBS), 63 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

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.

Other stations near El Rio

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 38; see all in the finder.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
K35PJ-DLow power	7.6 mi	304° NW	Weak	Simi Valley, CA
KIMG-LDLow power	13 mi	309° NW	Fair	Ventura, CA
KSMV-LDLow power	33 mi	78° ENE	Weak	Los Angeles, CA
KSBB-CDClass A	33 mi	291° WNW	Fair	Santa Barbara, CA
K10PV-DTranslator	33 mi	299° WNW	Poor	Santa Barbara, CA
KZDF-LPLow power	33 mi	299° WNW	Weak	Santa Barbara, CA
K36QH-DLow power	33 mi	299° WNW	Weak	Santa Barbara, CA
KSBT-LDLow power	33 mi	299° WNW	Poor	Santa Barbara, CA
KVMM-CDClass A	33 mi	299° WNW	Fair	Santa Barbara, CA
K26FT-DTranslator	33 mi	299° WNW	Poor	Santa Barbara, CA
KTBV-LDLow power	42 mi	16° NNE	Poor	Los Angeles, CA
K22OP-DLow power	43 mi	295° WNW	Poor	Santa Barbara, CA
KEDD-LDLow power	45 mi	100° E	Poor	Los Angeles, CA
K33QS-DTranslator	50 mi	294° WNW	Poor	Santa Barbara, Etc., CA
KBAB-LDLow power	50 mi	294° WNW	Poor	Santa Barbara, CA
KIIO-LDLow power	55 mi	95° E	Poor	Los Angeles, CA
KNET-CDClass A	62 mi	90° E	Poor	Los Angeles, CA
KTAV-LDLow power	62 mi	90° E	Poor	Los Angeles, CA
KHIZ-LDTranslator	62 mi	90° E	Poor	Los Angeles, CA
KNLA-CDClass A	62 mi	90° E	Poor	Los Angeles, CA
KCAL-TVFull power	63 mi	90° E	Fair	Los Angeles, CA
KFTR-DTFull power	63 mi	90° E	Good	Ontario, CA
KFLA-LDLow power	63 mi	90° E	Poor	Los Angeles, CA
KILMFull power	63 mi	90° E	Good	Inglewood, CA
KRCAFull power	63 mi	90° E	Fair	Riverside, CA

How El Rio compares with the rest of California

With 28 stations at fair strength or better, El Rio ranks 475th of 1,078 places in California: more than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 50 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 Oxnard, 2.8 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in El Rio: step by step

Mount an outdoor antenna on the roof or a mast, as high as you can safely get it, with a clear view toward the towers.
Point it toward 90° E, the direction of KLCS (PBS), 63 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 28 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 El Rio, CA?

ABC is on channel 3 from KEYT-TV, broadcasting from 50 miles WNW of El Rio. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in El Rio, CA?

CBS is on channel 2 from KCBS-TV, broadcasting from 62 miles E of El Rio. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in El Rio, CA?

NBC is on channel 4 from KNBC, broadcasting from 63 miles E of El Rio. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in El Rio, CA?

Fox is on channel 11 from KTTV, broadcasting from 63 miles E of El Rio. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is PBS in El Rio, CA?

PBS is on channel 58 from KLCS, broadcasting from 63 miles E of El Rio. Estimated signal: fair.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in El Rio?

52 transmitters within 70 miles of El Rio; around 28 of them are likely to be receivable with outdoor directional 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 El Rio?

What kind of antenna do I need in El Rio?

Outdoor directional antenna (45–70 miles). Some major towers are a long way off. Mount a directional antenna on the roof or a mast and aim it with the bearings below. The towers are spread over about 156° of the compass, so a multi-directional antenna or a rotator will help.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in El Rio?

Is there an app to find TV towers in El Rio?

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 California cities

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