TV channels & antenna towers in Chillicothe, Illinois
Chillicothe has 19 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 14 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WSIO-LD, 16 miles to the SW.
Network channels in Chillicothe
| Station | Channel | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBSWMBD-TVCBS | 31 | 20 mi | 188° S | Strong | Peoria, IL |
| MeTVWHOIMeTV | 19.6 | 20 mi | 189° S | Good | Peoria, IL |
| CWWEEK-TVCW | 25.3 | 20 mi | 189° S | Good | Peoria, IL |
| FOXWYZZ-TVFox | 43 | 25 mi | 140° SE | Strong | Bloomington, IL |
| FOXKLJBFox | 18 | 54 mi | 300° WNW | Good | Davenport, IA |
| ABCWQAD-TVABC | 8 | 54 mi | 300° WNW | Good | Moline, IL |
| TBNWMWC-TVTrinity | 53 | 54 mi | 300° WNW | Fair | Galesburg, IL |
| CWKGCWCW | 26 | 54 mi | 301° WNW | Good | Burlington, IA |
| NBCKWQC-TVNBC | 6 | 67 mi | 310° NW | Fair | Davenport, IA |
| CBSWHBF-TVCBS | 4 | 67 mi | 310° NW | Weak | Rock Island, IL |
| IONWCQA-LDION | 16.4 | 68 mi | 166° SSE | Poor | Springfield, IL |
Over-the-air TV in Chillicothe
With roughly 6,230 residents, Chillicothe is a town in Illinois. Our map shows 19 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 13 full-power and 6 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 14 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 9 at good or strong strength.
7 of them are within 25 miles of Chillicothe, 0 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 12 are more than 45 miles out. Three of the 11 network stations in range are licensed to Peoria, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Peoria's stations.
The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 8 (WQAD-TV), CBS on channel 31 (WMBD-TV), NBC on channel 6 (KWQC-TV), Fox on channel 43 (WYZZ-TV), CW on channel 25.3 (WEEK-TV), ION on channel 16.4 (WCQA-LD), MeTV on channel 19.6 (WHOI) and Trinity on channel 53 (WMWC-TV). 3 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 Chillicothe
The main network towers around Chillicothe are in different directions: CBS 188° S (20 mi) and Fox 140° SE (25 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.
Three network stations, WMBD-TV, WHOI and WEEK-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 20 miles south of Chillicothe (188° S). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.
Of the 9 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Chillicothe at fair strength or better, 56% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across two other directions.
All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Chillicothe, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.
Antenna and amplifier advice for Chillicothe
The farthest main network tower for Chillicothe is WYZZ-TV (Fox), 25 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.
WQAD-TV (ABC), 54 miles northwest and KWQC-TV (NBC), 67 miles northwest, 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 Chillicothe
Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.
| Station | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSIO-LDLow power | 16 mi | 218° SW | Fair | Peoria, IL |
| WTVPFull power | 21 mi | 192° SSW | Good | Peoria, IL |
| W27EQ-DLow power | 21 mi | 179° S | Fair | Peoria, IL |
| WQPT-TVFull power | 54 mi | 300° WNW | Good | Moline, IL |
| KQINFull power | 54 mi | 300° WNW | Fair | Davenport, IA |
| W27EJ-DLow power | 68 mi | 355° N | Poor | Sterling, IL |
| WAUR-LDLow power | 70 mi | 42° NE | Poor | Aurora, IL |
| WSPY-LDLow power | 70 mi | 42° NE | Poor | Earlville, IL |
How Chillicothe compares with the rest of Illinois
With 14 stations at fair strength or better, Chillicothe ranks 455th of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 20 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 North Peoria, 15 miles away.
Setting up an antenna in Chillicothe: step by step
- Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
- Point it toward 140° SE, the direction of WYZZ-TV (Fox), 25 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 14 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 Chillicothe, IL?
ABC is on channel 8 from WQAD-TV, broadcasting from 54 miles WNW of Chillicothe. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is CBS in Chillicothe, IL?
CBS is on channel 31 from WMBD-TV, broadcasting from 20 miles S of Chillicothe. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is NBC in Chillicothe, IL?
NBC is on channel 6 from KWQC-TV, broadcasting from 67 miles NW of Chillicothe. Estimated signal: fair.
What channel is Fox in Chillicothe, IL?
Fox is on channel 43 from WYZZ-TV, broadcasting from 25 miles SE of Chillicothe. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CW in Chillicothe, IL?
CW is on channel 25.3 from WEEK-TV, broadcasting from 20 miles S of Chillicothe. Estimated signal: good.
How many channels can I get with an antenna in Chillicothe?
19 transmitters within 70 miles of Chillicothe; around 14 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 Chillicothe?
The main network towers around Chillicothe are in different directions: CBS 188° S (20 mi) and Fox 140° SE (25 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.
What kind of antenna do I need in Chillicothe?
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 ABC and NBC from up to 67 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.
Do I need an antenna amplifier in Chillicothe?
WQAD-TV (ABC), 54 miles northwest and KWQC-TV (NBC), 67 miles northwest, 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.
Is there an app to find TV towers in Chillicothe?
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
- Washburn10 mi
- Peoria Heights13 mi
- Princeville14 mi
- Henry15 mi
- North Peoria15 mi
- Washington16 mi
- Peoria17 mi
- Eureka18 mi
- East Peoria18 mi
- Creve Coeur20 mi
- Bartonville21 mi
- Morton21 mi
- Minonk24 mi
- Pekin26 mi
- El Paso28 mi
- Princeton31 mi
- Farmington31 mi
- Spring Valley32 mi
- Kewanee32 mi
- Peru34 mi
- La Salle35 mi
- Streator37 mi
- Manito38 mi
- Delavan38 mi
More: all TV stations in Illinois · Midwest region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Chillicothe; signal estimates ignore terrain.