TV channels & antenna towers in Sun City, California

Sun City is a city of about 19,600 people in California. There are 94 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 29 full-power, 14 Class A, 33 low-power and 18 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 31 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 14 at good or strong strength.

6 of them are within 25 miles of Sun City, 9 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 79 are more than 45 miles out. Seven of the 25 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 best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 7 (KABC-TV), CBS on channel 2 (KCBS-TV), NBC on channel 36 (KMIR-TV), Fox on channel 11 (KTTV), PBS on channel 24 (KVCR-DT), 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.

The main network towers around Sun City are in different directions: ABC 306° NW (61 mi), CBS 306° NW (62 mi), NBC 76° ENE (45 mi), Fox 306° NW (61 mi) and PBS 344° NNW (18 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

12 network stations, KAZA-TV, KLCS, KTBN-TV, KTTV and KVEA and others, transmit from the same tower site about 61 miles northwest of Sun City (305° NW). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 14 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Sun City at fair strength or better, 79% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across two other directions.

KMIR-TV (NBC) lies beyond the radio horizon of its transmitter as seen from Sun City. Past that point signals fade quickly, so antenna height matters more than amplification.

The farthest main network tower for Sun City is KCBS-TV (CBS), 62 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

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 31 stations at fair strength or better, Sun City ranks 398th of 1,078 places in California: more than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 18 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 Menifee, 3.2 miles away.