TV channels & antenna towers in Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is a city of about 2,720,000 people in Illinois. There are 34 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 15 full-power, 7 Class A and 12 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 29 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 28 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 28 transmitters are within 25 miles, 3 between 25 and 45 miles, and 3 farther out. Chicago is a broadcast hub in its own right: ten of the 11 network stations in range are licensed here.

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.

Point your antenna NNE, at about 20°. The main network towers for Chicago 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 2.1 miles north of Chicago (20° NNE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Chicago 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 Chicago, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

The farthest main network tower for Chicago is WBBM-TV (CBS), 2.1 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

WTTW is only 2.1 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.

With 29 stations at fair strength or better, Chicago ranks 17th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 2.1 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.

28% of Illinois's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna.