TV channels & antenna towers in Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

Washington, D.C. has 43 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW. About 32 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WDCO-CD, 3.9 miles to the NW.

Open Washington, D.C. in the live finder

43TV transmitters within 70 miles

10networks over the air

3.9 mito the closest tower

601,723population

Network channels in Washington, D.C.

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
MeTVWDME-CDMeTV	48.1	3.9 mi	322° NW	Good	Washington, DC
CWWDCWCW	50	3.9 mi	322° NW	Strong	Washington, DC
NBCWRC-TVNBC	4	3.9 mi	322° NW	Strong	Washington, DC
TLMWZDC-CDTelemundo	44	3.9 mi	322° NW	Strong	Washington, DC
UNIWFDC-DTUnivision	14	3.9 mi	322° NW	Strong	Arlington, VA
ABCWJLA-TVABC	7	4.5 mi	329° NNW	Strong	Washington, DC
PBSWHUT-TVPBS	32	4.5 mi	329° NNW	Strong	Washington, DC
CBSWUSACBS	9	4.5 mi	329° NNW	Strong	Washington, DC
PBSWETA-TVPBS	26	4.5 mi	329° NNW	Strong	Washington, DC
FOXWTTGFox	5	6.0 mi	322° NW	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWPXW-TVION	66	6.0 mi	322° NW	Strong	Manassas, VA
CBSWJZ-TVCBS	13	37 mi	34° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
ABCWMAR-TVABC	2	37 mi	34° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
NBCWBAL-TVNBC	11	37 mi	34° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
CWWNUVCW	54	37 mi	34° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
FOXWBFFFox	45	37 mi	34° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
IONWWPX-TVION	60	46 mi	301° WNW	Weak	Martinsburg, WV

Over-the-air TV in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., District of Columbia has a population of about 602,000. Our map shows 43 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 24 full-power, 6 Class A, 12 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 32 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 25 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 24 transmitters are within 25 miles, 9 between 25 and 45 miles, and 10 farther out. Nine of the 17 network stations in range are licensed to Washington, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Washington's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 7 (WJLA-TV), CBS on channel 9 (WUSA), NBC on channel 4 (WRC-TV), Fox on channel 5 (WTTG), PBS on channel 26 (WETA-TV), CW on channel 50 (WDCW), ION on channel 66 (WPXW-TV), Telemundo on channel 44 (WZDC-CD), Univision on channel 14 (WFDC-DT) and MeTV on channel 48.1 (WDME-CD). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (strong signal) and Univision (strong signal). 9 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 Washington, D.C.

Point your antenna NW, at about 326°. The main network towers for Washington, D.C. sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

11 network stations, WDME-CD, WDCW, WRC-TV, WZDC-CD and WFDC-DT and others, transmit from the same tower site about 3.9 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. (322° NW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 16 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Washington, D.C. at fair strength or better, 69% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Washington, D.C.

The farthest main network tower for Washington, D.C. is WTTG (Fox), 6.0 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

WIAV-CD is only 3.9 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.

Other stations near Washington, D.C.

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 26; see all in the finder.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WDCO-CDClass A	3.9 mi	322° NW	Good	Woodstock, VA
WIAV-CDClass A	3.9 mi	322° NW	Strong	Washington, DC
WMDO-CDClass A	3.9 mi	322° NW	Good	Washington, DC
WRZB-LDLow power	3.9 mi	322° NW	Good	Washington, DC
WWTD-LDLow power	3.9 mi	322° NW	Good	Washington, DC
WJALFull power	4.5 mi	329° NNW	Strong	Silver Spring, MD
WDCAFull power	6.0 mi	322° NW	Strong	Washington, DC
WDDN-LDLow power	7.3 mi	351° N	Good	Washington, DC
WDCN-LDLow power	10 mi	262° W	Fair	Fairfax, VA
WDWA-LDLow power	17 mi	354° N	Weak	Damascus, VA
W10DE-DLow power	19 mi	70° ENE	Fair	Washington, DC
WMPTFull power	24 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Annapolis, MD
WQAW-LDLow power	24 mi	71° ENE	Fair	Lake Shore, MD
WFPTFull power	29 mi	330° NNW	Fair	Frederick, MD
WUTBFull power	37 mi	34° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
WMPBFull power	41 mi	20° NNE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
WMJF-CDClass A	42 mi	33° NNE	Weak	Towson, MD
WLZH-LDLow power	50 mi	31° NNE	Poor	Baltimore, MD
W13DW-DLow power	51 mi	85° E	Poor	Annapolis, MD
WMDEFull power	51 mi	85° E	Poor	Dover, DE
WDVM-TVFull power	53 mi	275° W	Good	Hagerstown, MD
W14DK-DLow power	56 mi	108° ESE	Poor	Dagsboro, DE
WWDD-LDLow power	60 mi	45° NE	Poor	Baltimore, MD
W13DV-DLow power	66 mi	233° SW	Poor	Rapidan, VA
W08EE-DTranslator	67 mi	306° NW	Poor	Martinsburg, WV

How Washington, D.C. compares with the rest of District of Columbia

With 32 stations at fair strength or better, Washington, D.C. ranks 2nd of 5 places in District of Columbia: the same as the typical District of Columbia town (32). Its nearest major network tower is 3.9 miles away, against a state median of 3.8 miles.

100% of District of Columbia's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna.

Setting up an antenna in Washington, D.C.: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 322° NW, the direction of WTTG (Fox), 6.0 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
Expect around 32 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Washington, D.C., DC?

ABC is on channel 7 from WJLA-TV, broadcasting from 4.5 miles NNW of Washington, D.C.. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CBS in Washington, D.C., DC?

CBS is on channel 9 from WUSA, broadcasting from 4.5 miles NNW of Washington, D.C.. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is NBC in Washington, D.C., DC?

NBC is on channel 4 from WRC-TV, broadcasting from 3.9 miles NW of Washington, D.C.. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Washington, D.C., DC?

Fox is on channel 5 from WTTG, broadcasting from 6.0 miles NW of Washington, D.C.. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is PBS in Washington, D.C., DC?

PBS is on channel 26 from WETA-TV, broadcasting from 4.5 miles NNW of Washington, D.C.. Estimated signal: strong.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Washington, D.C.?

43 transmitters within 70 miles of Washington, D.C.; around 32 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 Washington, D.C.?

Point your antenna NW, at about 326°. The main network towers for Washington, D.C. sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Washington, D.C.?

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.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Washington, D.C.?

WIAV-CD is only 3.9 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.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Washington, D.C.?

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 District of Columbia cities

Nearby cities in other states

More: all TV stations in District of Columbia · South region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Washington, D.C.; signal estimates ignore terrain.