TV channels & antenna towers in Evanston, Illinois

Evanston has 36 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 29 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WWTO-TV, 10 miles to the SSE.

Open Evanston in the live finder

36TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

10 mito the closest tower

75,527population

Network channels in Evanston

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	10 mi	161° SSE	Strong	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	10 mi	161° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
FOXWFLDFox	32	12 mi	166° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	12 mi	166° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	12 mi	166° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	12 mi	166° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	12 mi	166° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	12 mi	166° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	12 mi	166° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	12 mi	166° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	12 mi	166° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL

Over-the-air TV in Evanston

With roughly 75,500 residents, Evanston is a city in Illinois. Our map shows 36 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 15 full-power, 7 Class A and 14 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 29 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 23 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 28 transmitters are within 25 miles, 1 between 25 and 45 miles, and 7 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.

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 (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 Evanston

Point your antenna SSE, at about 166°. The main network towers for Evanston sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Ten network stations, WGBO-DT, WFLD, WMAQ-TV, WSNS-TV and WWME-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 10 miles south of Evanston (161° SSE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

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

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Evanston

The farthest main network tower for Evanston is WBBM-TV (CBS), 12 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.

WGBO-DT is only 10 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.

Other stations near Evanston

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WWTO-TVFull power	10 mi	161° SSE	Good	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	10 mi	161° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	10 mi	161° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	10 mi	161° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	10 mi	161° SSE	Fair	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	10 mi	161° SSE	Good	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	10 mi	161° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	10 mi	161° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A	10 mi	161° SSE	Good	Plano, IL
WCHU-LDLow power	11 mi	163° SSE	Fair	Oakwood Hills, IL
WDCI-LDLow power	11 mi	162° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
WTTWFull power	12 mi	166° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power	12 mi	166° SSE	Strong	Gary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A	12 mi	166° SSE	Fair	Arlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A	12 mi	166° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
WJYSFull power	12 mi	166° SSE	Good	Hammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power	12 mi	166° SSE	Strong	Aurora, IL
WODN-LDLow power	39 mi	138° SE	Poor	Portage, IN
WAAA-LDLow power	50 mi	136° SE	Poor	Valparaiso, IN
WYINFull power	50 mi	163° SSE	Good	Gary, IN
WAUR-LDLow power	52 mi	241° WSW	Poor	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	52 mi	241° WSW	Poor	Earlville, IL
WDMW-LDLow power	69 mi	339° NNW	Poor	Milwaukee, WI
WTAS-LDLow power	69 mi	339° NNW	Poor	Waukesha, WI
WYGN-LDLow power	69 mi	94° E	Poor	Berrien Springs, MI

How Evanston compares with the rest of Illinois

With 29 stations at fair strength or better, Evanston ranks 17th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 10 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 Chicago, 13 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Evanston: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 166° SSE, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 12 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 29 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 Evanston, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 12 miles SSE of Evanston. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CBS in Evanston, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 12 miles SSE of Evanston. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Evanston, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 12 miles SSE of Evanston. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Evanston, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 12 miles SSE of Evanston. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Evanston, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 12 miles SSE of Evanston. Estimated signal: strong.

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

36 transmitters within 70 miles of Evanston; around 29 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 Evanston?

Point your antenna SSE, at about 166°. The main network towers for Evanston sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Evanston?

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 Evanston?

WGBO-DT is only 10 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.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Evanston?

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 Evanston; signal estimates ignore terrain.