TV channels & antenna towers in Central City, Illinois

Central City has 34 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 WAUR-LD, 33 miles to the NNW.

Open Central City in the live finder

34TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

33 mito the closest tower

1,359population

Network channels in Central City

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWFLDFox	32	55 mi	37° NE	Good	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	55 mi	37° NE	Good	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	55 mi	37° NE	Good	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	55 mi	37° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	55 mi	37° NE	Good	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	55 mi	37° NE	Good	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	55 mi	37° NE	Fair	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	55 mi	37° NE	Good	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	55 mi	37° NE	Good	Chicago, IL
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	57 mi	36° NE	Good	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	57 mi	36° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
FOXWYZZ-TVFox	43	62 mi	229° SW	Fair	Bloomington, IL

Over-the-air TV in Central City

With roughly 1,360 residents, Central City is a small community in Illinois. Our map shows 34 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 16 full-power, 7 Class A and 11 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 15 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 11 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 0 transmitters are within 25 miles, 2 between 25 and 45 miles, and 32 farther out. Ten of the 12 network stations in range are licensed to Chicago, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Chicago's stations.

The best-placed network stations 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 (good signal) and Univision (good 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 Central City

Point your antenna NE, at about 37°. The main network towers for Central City 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 55 miles northeast of Central City (37° NE). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Central City at fair strength or better, 90% arrive from the northeast; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Central City

The farthest main network tower for Central City is WBBM-TV (CBS), 55 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

At this distance a low-noise preamplifier mounted on the mast, right below the antenna, helps more than an amplifier near the TV. It boosts the signal before cable loss eats into it. See the amplifier guide.

Other stations near Central City

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WAUR-LDLow power	33 mi	333° NNW	Weak	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	33 mi	333° NNW	Weak	Earlville, IL
WYINFull power	46 mi	80° E	Good	Gary, IN
WTTWFull power	55 mi	37° NE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power	55 mi	37° NE	Good	Gary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A	55 mi	37° NE	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A	55 mi	37° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WJYSFull power	55 mi	37° NE	Fair	Hammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power	55 mi	37° NE	Good	Aurora, IL
WDCI-LDLow power	56 mi	37° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WCHU-LDLow power	56 mi	37° NE	Poor	Oakwood Hills, IL
WWTO-TVFull power	57 mi	36° NE	Weak	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	57 mi	36° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	57 mi	36° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	57 mi	36° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	57 mi	36° NE	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	57 mi	36° NE	Poor	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	57 mi	36° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	57 mi	36° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A	57 mi	36° NE	Poor	Plano, IL
WODN-LDLow power	62 mi	64° ENE	Poor	Portage, IN
WAAA-LDLow power	68 mi	73° ENE	Poor	Valparaiso, IN

How Central City compares with the rest of Illinois

With 15 stations at fair strength or better, Central City ranks 403rd of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 55 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.

18% of Illinois's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Joliet, 22 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Central City: step by step

Mount an outdoor antenna on the roof or a mast, as high as you can safely get it, with a clear view toward the towers.
Point it toward 37° NE, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 55 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 Central City, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 55 miles NE of Central City. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Central City, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 55 miles NE of Central City. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Central City, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 55 miles NE of Central City. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Central City, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 55 miles NE of Central City. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Central City, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 55 miles NE of Central City. Estimated signal: good.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Central City?

34 transmitters within 70 miles of Central City; around 15 of them are likely to be receivable with outdoor directional 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 Central City?

Point your antenna NE, at about 37°. The main network towers for Central City sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Central City?

Outdoor directional antenna (45–70 miles). Some major towers are a long way off. Mount a directional antenna on the roof or a mast and aim it with the bearings below.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Central City?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Central City?

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 Central City; signal estimates ignore terrain.