TV stations in Colorado

Colorado has 400 licensed TV transmitters: 34 full-power, 6 Class A, 54 low-power and 306 translator stations. Translators make up 77% of the total, well above the national share of 41%. That usually points to mountains or long rural distances that the main towers cannot cover on their own.

Most full-power and Class A stations are licensed to Denver (12), Grand Junction (7), Colorado Springs (3) and Durango (3). Those cities are where the main broadcast hubs sit, and most viewers aim their antennas toward one of them.

The most powerful full-power transmitter in Colorado is KCNC-TV (CBS) in Denver, at 1,000 kW effective radiated power. The tallest is KLML near Grand Junction, 892 m (2,927 ft) above the surrounding terrain.

We ran a reception estimate for all 225 cities and towns in Colorado. A typical place gets 18 stations at fair strength or better (national median: 17), and its nearest major network tower is about 18 miles away. 14% of places can use an indoor antenna, 48% need an amplified or attic antenna, 38% an outdoor directional antenna and 0% a long-range setup.

Weighted by population, the share of residents with a listed affiliate at fair strength or better is: ABC 91%, CBS 95%, NBC 90% and Fox 79%.

Denver has the most stations in reach (36). Ordway is the hardest place to get network TV over the air: its nearest major network tower is 70 miles away.