TV channels & antenna towers in Thornton, California

Thornton, California has a population of about 1,130. Our map shows 70 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 33 full-power, 6 Class A and 31 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 35 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 25 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 12 transmitters are within 25 miles, 13 between 25 and 45 miles, and 45 farther out. Eight of the 22 network stations in range are licensed to Sacramento, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Sacramento's stations.

The best-placed network stations 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), Univision on channel 19 (KUVS-DT) and MeTV on channel 44.3 (KPYX). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (strong signal) and Univision (good signal). 13 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 WNW, at about 297°. The main network towers for Thornton sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Six network stations, KXTV, KMAX-TV, KOVR, KSPX-TV and KQCA and others, transmit from the same tower site about 4.3 miles west of Thornton (283° WNW). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 19 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Thornton at fair strength or better, 47% arrive from the southwest; the rest are spread across four other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Thornton is KVIE (PBS), 5.4 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

KTFK-DT is only 4.3 miles away with a strong signal. Signals that strong can overload an amplifier, so start without one and add it only if distant channels are missing. Read when an amplifier helps.

With 35 stations at fair strength or better, Thornton ranks 251st of 1,078 places in California: more than the typical California town (25). Its nearest major network tower is 4.3 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.

22% of California's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Galt, 7.1 miles away.