TV channels & antenna towers in Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica is a city of about 93,200 people in California. There are 48 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 25 full-power, 6 Class A, 16 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 33 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 19 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 3 transmitters are within 25 miles, 36 between 25 and 45 miles, and 9 farther out. Seven of the 13 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 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 ENE, at about 59°. The main network towers for Santa Monica sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

12 network stations, KAZA-TV, KCBS-TV, KDOC-TV, KMEX-DT and KPXN-TV and others, transmit from the same tower site about 28 miles northeast of Santa Monica (61° ENE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 12 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Santa Monica at fair strength or better, all arrive from the northeast, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

The farthest main network tower for Santa Monica is KLCS (PBS), 28 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 33 stations at fair strength or better, Santa Monica ranks 312th of 1,078 places in California: more than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 28 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, 14 miles away.