TV channels & antenna towers in Newcastle, California

Newcastle is a small community of about 1,220 people in California. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 35 licensed TV transmitters: 11 full-power, 5 Class A, 16 low-power and 3 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 20 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 8 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 10 transmitters are within 25 miles, 5 between 25 and 45 miles, and 20 farther out. Eight of the 11 network stations in range are licensed to Sacramento, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Sacramento's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 10 (KXTV), CBS on channel 13 (KOVR), NBC on channel 3 (KCRA-TV), Fox on channel 40 (KTXL), PBS on channel 6 (KVIE), CW on channel 58 (KQCA), ION on channel 29 (KSPX-TV), Telemundo on channel 31.7 (KMAX-TV) and Univision on channel 19 (KUVS-DT). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (good signal) and Univision (good signal). 2 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 SSW, at about 205°. The main network towers for Newcastle sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Five network stations, KTXL, KVIE, KQCA, KCRA-TV and KSPX-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 46 miles southwest of Newcastle (206° SSW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

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

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

The farthest main network tower for Newcastle is KOVR (CBS), 48 miles away with a good 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.

With 20 stations at fair strength or better, Newcastle ranks 645th of 1,078 places in California: fewer than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 22 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 Granite Bay, 7.8 miles away.