TV channels & antenna towers in Blue Island, Illinois

Blue Island has 33 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 28 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WTTW, 15 miles to the N.

Open Blue Island in the live finder

33TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

15 mito the closest tower

23,652population

Network channels in Blue Island

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWFLDFox	32	15 mi	8° N	Strong	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	15 mi	8° N	Strong	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	15 mi	8° N	Strong	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	15 mi	8° N	Fair	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	15 mi	8° N	Strong	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	15 mi	8° N	Strong	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	15 mi	9° N	Good	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	15 mi	9° N	Strong	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	15 mi	9° N	Strong	Chicago, IL
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	17 mi	10° N	Strong	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	17 mi	10° N	Weak	Chicago, IL

Over-the-air TV in Blue Island

With roughly 23,700 residents, Blue Island is a city in Illinois. Our map shows 33 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 15 full-power, 7 Class A and 11 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 28 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 14 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 28 transmitters are within 25 miles, 3 between 25 and 45 miles, and 2 farther out. Ten of the 11 network stations in range are licensed to Chicago, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Chicago's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 7 (WLS-TV), CBS on channel 2 (WBBM-TV), NBC on channel 5 (WMAQ-TV), Fox on channel 32 (WFLD), CW on channel 9 (WGN-TV), ION on channel 38 (WCPX-TV), Telemundo on channel 44 (WSNS-TV), Univision on channel 66 (WGBO-DT) and MeTV on channel 26.3 (WCIU-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (strong signal) and Univision (strong signal). 6 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 Blue Island

Point your antenna N, at about 8°. The main network towers for Blue Island sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Ten network stations, WFLD, WMAQ-TV, WSNS-TV, WWME-CD and WCIU-TV and others, transmit from the same tower site about 15 miles north of Blue Island (8° N). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Blue Island at fair strength or better, all arrive from the north, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Blue Island

The farthest main network tower for Blue Island is WBBM-TV (CBS), 15 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

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 Blue Island

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WTTWFull power	15 mi	8° N	Good	Chicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power	15 mi	8° N	Strong	Gary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A	15 mi	8° N	Fair	Arlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A	15 mi	8° N	Fair	Chicago, IL
WJYSFull power	15 mi	9° N	Good	Hammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power	15 mi	9° N	Strong	Aurora, IL
WDCI-LDLow power	16 mi	11° N	Fair	Chicago, IL
WCHU-LDLow power	16 mi	10° N	Fair	Oakwood Hills, IL
WWTO-TVFull power	17 mi	10° N	Fair	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	17 mi	10° N	Fair	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	17 mi	10° N	Fair	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	17 mi	10° N	Fair	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	17 mi	10° N	Fair	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	17 mi	10° N	Fair	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	17 mi	10° N	Fair	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	17 mi	10° N	Fair	Chicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A	17 mi	10° N	Fair	Plano, IL
WODN-LDLow power	25 mi	95° E	Weak	Portage, IN
WYINFull power	26 mi	146° SE	Good	Gary, IN
WAAA-LDLow power	35 mi	105° ESE	Weak	Valparaiso, IN
WAUR-LDLow power	46 mi	271° W	Poor	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	46 mi	271° W	Poor	Earlville, IL

How Blue Island compares with the rest of Illinois

With 28 stations at fair strength or better, Blue Island ranks 70th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 15 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 Oak Lawn, 5.5 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Blue Island: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 9° N, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 15 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 28 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 Blue Island, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 15 miles N of Blue Island. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CBS in Blue Island, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 15 miles N of Blue Island. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Blue Island, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 15 miles N of Blue Island. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Blue Island, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 15 miles N of Blue Island. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Blue Island, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 15 miles N of Blue Island. Estimated signal: strong.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Blue Island?

33 transmitters within 70 miles of Blue Island; around 28 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 Blue Island?

Point your antenna N, at about 8°. The main network towers for Blue Island sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Blue Island?

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 Blue Island?

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.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Blue Island?

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 Blue Island; signal estimates ignore terrain.