TV channels & antenna towers in Irvine, California

With roughly 257,000 residents, Irvine is a city in California. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 57 licensed TV transmitters: 27 full-power, 8 Class A, 19 low-power and 3 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 26 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.

1 of them is within 25 miles of Irvine, 43 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 13 are more than 45 miles out. Seven 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.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 7 (KABC-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.

Point your antenna NNW, at about 340°. The main network towers for Irvine sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

12 network stations, KAZA-TV, KLCS, KTBN-TV, KTTV and KVEA and others, transmit from the same tower site about 40 miles north of Irvine (340° NNW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 13 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Irvine at fair strength or better, 92% arrive from the north; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

The farthest main network tower for Irvine is KCBS-TV (CBS), 41 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

An amplifier only helps here if you run a long cable (over about 50 feet) or split the antenna to several TVs. Otherwise better placement does more. See the amplifier guide.

With 26 stations at fair strength or better, Irvine ranks 503rd of 1,078 places in California: more than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 37 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.

48% of California's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Los Angeles, 36 miles away.