TV channels & antenna towers in Athens, Illinois

Athens has 24 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 15 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is W31EH-D, 10 miles to the SSE.

Open Athens in the live finder

24TV transmitters within 70 miles

7networks over the air

10 mito the closest tower

1,938population

Network channels in Athens

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
ABCWICSABC	20	18 mi	128° SE	Good	Springfield, IL
FOXWRSP-TVFox	55	18 mi	128° SE	Good	Springfield, IL
IONWCQA-LDION	16.4	29 mi	88° E	Weak	Springfield, IL
CWWBUICW	23	47 mi	91° E	Good	Decatur, IL
MeTVWHOIMeTV	19.6	47 mi	11° NNE	Good	Peoria, IL
CWWEEK-TVCW	25.3	47 mi	11° NNE	Good	Peoria, IL
NBCWANDNBC	17	47 mi	90° E	Good	Decatur, IL
CBSWMBD-TVCBS	31	48 mi	12° NNE	Good	Peoria, IL
FOXWYZZ-TVFox	43	55 mi	31° NNE	Good	Bloomington, IL
CBSWCIACBS	3	68 mi	81° E	Weak	Champaign, IL

Over-the-air TV in Athens

Athens is a small community of about 1,940 people in Illinois. There are 24 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 14 full-power, 9 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 15 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 9 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 7 transmitters are within 25 miles, 4 between 25 and 45 miles, and 13 farther out. Three of the 10 network stations in range are licensed to Springfield, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Springfield's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 20 (WICS), CBS on channel 31 (WMBD-TV), NBC on channel 17 (WAND), Fox on channel 55 (WRSP-TV), CW on channel 23 (WBUI), ION on channel 16.4 (WCQA-LD) and MeTV on channel 19.6 (WHOI). 5 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 Athens

Point your antenna SE, at about 128°. The main network towers for Athens sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Two network stations, WICS and WRSP-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 18 miles southeast of Athens (128° SE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 8 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Athens at fair strength or better, 38% arrive from the north; the rest are spread across three other directions.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Athens

The farthest main network tower for Athens is WRSP-TV (Fox), 18 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WMBD-TV (CBS), 48 miles north and WAND (NBC), 47 miles east, are the exception: the nearest listed affiliates of those networks are 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 those.

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 Athens

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
W31EH-DLow power	10 mi	154° SSE	Weak	Springfield, IL
W27ES-DLow power	10 mi	154° SSE	Fair	Springfield, IL
WEAE-LDLow power	14 mi	153° SSE	Fair	Springfield, IL
WCIXFull power	16 mi	137° SE	Fair	Springfield, IL
W23EW-DLow power	18 mi	145° SE	Fair	Springfield, IL
W19EE-DLow power	30 mi	237° WSW	Poor	Jacksonville, IL
WSECFull power	30 mi	215° SW	Good	Jacksonville, IL
W29ES-DTranslator	30 mi	215° SW	Fair	Jacksonville, IL
WLCF-LDLow power	45 mi	91° E	Poor	Decatur, IL
WTVPFull power	47 mi	10° N	Fair	Peoria, IL
W27EQ-DLow power	47 mi	16° NNE	Poor	Peoria, IL
WSIO-LDLow power	54 mi	3° N	Poor	Peoria, IL
WILL-TVFull power	56 mi	84° E	Weak	Urbana, IL
WMECFull power	61 mi	300° WNW	Poor	Macomb, IL

How Athens compares with the rest of Illinois

With 15 stations at fair strength or better, Athens ranks 403rd of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 18 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.

28% of Illinois's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Springfield, 12 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Athens: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 128° SE, the direction of WRSP-TV (Fox), 18 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 15 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 Athens, IL?

ABC is on channel 20 from WICS, broadcasting from 18 miles SE of Athens. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Athens, IL?

CBS is on channel 31 from WMBD-TV, broadcasting from 48 miles NNE of Athens. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Athens, IL?

NBC is on channel 17 from WAND, broadcasting from 47 miles E of Athens. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Athens, IL?

Fox is on channel 55 from WRSP-TV, broadcasting from 18 miles SE of Athens. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Athens, IL?

CW is on channel 23 from WBUI, broadcasting from 47 miles E of Athens. Estimated signal: good.

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

24 transmitters within 70 miles of Athens; around 15 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 Athens?

Point your antenna SE, at about 128°. The main network towers for Athens sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Athens?

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 CBS and NBC from up to 48 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Athens?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Athens?

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 Illinois cities

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