TV channels & antenna towers in Watertown, Connecticut

Watertown has 40 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 24 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WTXX-LD, 7.6 miles to the E.

40TV transmitters within 70 miles
9networks over the air
7.6 mito the closest tower
3,574population

Network channels in Watertown

StationChannelDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
ABCWTNHABC8 15 mi146° SE FairNew Haven, CT
TLMWRDM-CDTelemundo19 16 mi66° ENE GoodHartford, CT
NBCWVITNBC30 16 mi66° ENE GoodNew Britain, CT
FOXWTIC-TVFox61 16 mi65° ENE StrongHartford, CT
CWWCCT-TVCW20 16 mi65° ENE GoodWaterbury, CT
IONWHPX-TVION26 16 mi65° ENE StrongNew London, CT
MeTVWHCT-LDMeTV35.1 16 mi65° ENE FairHartford, New Haven, CT
CBSWFSBCBS3 20 mi54° NE StrongHartford, CT
UNIWUVNUnivision18 34 mi78° ENE FairHartford, CT
UNIWHTX-LDUnivision43 39 mi33° NNE PoorSpringfield, MA
CWWWLPCW22.2 39 mi33° NNE FairSpringfield, MA
TLMWDMR-LDTelemundo14 39 mi33° NNE PoorSpringfield, MA
ABCWGGB-TVABC40 50 mi29° NNE GoodSpringfield, MA
CBSWSHM-LDCBS33 50 mi29° NNE PoorSpringfield, MA
CWWFXQ-CDCW28.2 51 mi28° NNE PoorSpringfield, MA
IONWPXQ-TVION69 69 mi96° E PoorNewport, RI

Over-the-air TV in Watertown

With roughly 3,570 residents, Watertown is a town in Connecticut. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 40 licensed TV transmitters: 18 full-power, 7 Class A, 12 low-power and 3 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 24 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 10 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 17 transmitters are within 25 miles, 5 between 25 and 45 miles, and 18 farther out. Six of the 16 network stations in range are licensed to Springfield, MA, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Springfield's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 40 (WGGB-TV), CBS on channel 3 (WFSB), NBC on channel 30 (WVIT), Fox on channel 61 (WTIC-TV), CW on channel 20 (WCCT-TV), ION on channel 26 (WHPX-TV), Telemundo on channel 19 (WRDM-CD), Univision on channel 18 (WUVN) and MeTV on channel 35.1 (WHCT-LD). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (good signal) and Univision (fair signal). 8 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Which way to point your antenna in Watertown

Point your antenna ENE, at about 62°. The main network towers for Watertown sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Five network stations, WRDM-CD, WVIT, WTIC-TV, WCCT-TV and WHPX-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 16 miles northeast of Watertown (66° ENE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Watertown at fair strength or better, 80% arrive from the northeast; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Watertown

The farthest main network tower for Watertown is WFSB (CBS), 20 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WGGB-TV (ABC), 50 miles northeast, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for that one.

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.

Other stations near Watertown

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.

StationDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
WTXX-LDLow power7.6 mi 84° EGoodSpringfield, MA
WCTXFull power15 mi 146° SEFairNew Haven, CT
WEDYFull power16 mi 65° ENEStrongNew Haven, CT
WEDHFull power16 mi 65° ENEStrongHartford, CT
WHNH-CDClass A16 mi 65° ENEFairManchester, Etc., VT
WXGN-LDLow power18 mi 244° WSWFairDanbury, CT
WWAX-LDLow power20 mi 54° NEFairHartford, CT
WRNT-LDLow power21 mi 51° NEFairHartford, CT
WETN-LDClass A23 mi 160° SSEFairAllingtown, CT
WUTH-CDClass A34 mi 78° ENEFairHartford, CT
WZPK-LDTranslator46 mi 280° WPoorMonticello, NY
W23ER-DTranslator46 mi 280° WWeakPoughkeepsie, NY
WNYJ-LDLow power46 mi 280° WPoorNewburgh, NY
WEDNFull power50 mi 97° EPoorNorwich, CT
WGBY-TVFull power50 mi 29° NNEFairSpringfield, MA
WLNY-TVFull power50 mi 168° SSEFairRiverhead, NY
WFTY-DTFull power50 mi 170° SFairSmithtown, NY
W28DA-DTranslator57 mi 352° NPoorPittsfield, MA
W20CQ-DLow power59 mi 198° SSWPoorHempstead, NY
WLIG-LDLow power59 mi 196° SSWPoorPlainview, Etc., NY
WVVH-CDClass A59 mi 137° SEPoorSouthampton, NY
WEPT-CDClass A61 mi 223° SWPoorPeekskill, NY
WYNB-LDLow power64 mi 275° WPoorEllenville, NY
WLWCFull power69 mi 96° EPoorNew Bedford, MA

How Watertown compares with the rest of Connecticut

With 24 stations at fair strength or better, Watertown ranks 111th of 183 places in Connecticut: fewer than the typical Connecticut town (26). Its nearest major network tower is 15 miles away, against a state median of 15 miles.

16% of Connecticut's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Waterbury, 4.8 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Watertown: step by step

  1. Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
  2. Point it toward 54° NE, the direction of WFSB (CBS), 20 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
  3. Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
  4. Expect around 24 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
  5. Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Watertown, CT?

ABC is on channel 40 from WGGB-TV, broadcasting from 50 miles NNE of Watertown. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Watertown, CT?

CBS is on channel 3 from WFSB, broadcasting from 20 miles NE of Watertown. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is NBC in Watertown, CT?

NBC is on channel 30 from WVIT, broadcasting from 16 miles ENE of Watertown. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Watertown, CT?

Fox is on channel 61 from WTIC-TV, broadcasting from 16 miles ENE of Watertown. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Watertown, CT?

CW is on channel 20 from WCCT-TV, broadcasting from 16 miles ENE of Watertown. Estimated signal: good.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Watertown?

40 transmitters within 70 miles of Watertown; around 24 of them are likely to be receivable with indoor antenna. Each station usually carries several subchannels, so the total channel count after a scan is higher.

Which direction should I point my TV antenna in Watertown?

Point your antenna ENE, at about 62°. The main network towers for Watertown sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Watertown?

Indoor antenna (up to ~25 miles). The main towers are close. A flat indoor antenna near a window facing the towers should pull in the major networks. Picking up ABC from up to 50 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Watertown?

WGGB-TV (ABC), 50 miles northeast, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for that one.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Watertown?

Yes. The free RCA Signal Finder app for iPhone and Android uses your phone's GPS and compass to show which way each tower is from where you stand.

TV channels in nearby Connecticut cities

More: all TV stations in Connecticut · Northeast region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Watertown; signal estimates ignore terrain.