TV channels & antenna towers in Highland, Illinois
Highland has 27 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 WXSL-LD, 17 miles to the WSW.
Network channels in Highland
| Station | Channel | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBSKMOVCBS | 4 | 37 mi | 247° WSW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
| TLMWODK-LDTelemundo | 45 | 37 mi | 252° WSW | Weak | Saint Louis, MO |
| ABCKDNL-TVABC | 30 | 37 mi | 253° WSW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
| NBCKSDKNBC | 5 | 38 mi | 252° WSW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
| CWKPLR-TVCW | 11 | 40 mi | 250° WSW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
| FOXKTVIFox | 2 | 40 mi | 250° WSW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
| IONWRBUION | 46 | 50 mi | 241° WSW | Good | East St. Louis, IL |
| MeTVKNLCMeTV | 24.1 | 54 mi | 241° WSW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
Over-the-air TV in Highland
Highland is a town of about 9,850 people in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 27 licensed TV transmitters: 11 full-power, 4 Class A, 11 low-power and 1 translator. 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.
1 of them is within 25 miles of Highland, 19 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 7 are more than 45 miles out. Six of the 8 network stations in range are licensed to St. Louis, MO, so most of the network channels you will find here come from St. Louis's stations.
For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 30 (KDNL-TV), CBS on channel 4 (KMOV), NBC on channel 5 (KSDK), Fox on channel 2 (KTVI), CW on channel 11 (KPLR-TV), ION on channel 46 (WRBU), Telemundo on channel 45 (WODK-LD) and MeTV on channel 24.1 (KNLC). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (weak signal). 4 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 Highland
Point your antenna WSW, at about 250°. The main network towers for Highland sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
Two network stations, KDNL-TV and KSDK, transmit from the same tower site about 37 miles west of Highland (253° WSW). That one direction covers every station on the site.
Of the 7 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Highland at fair strength or better, 57% arrive from the west; the rest are spread across one other direction.
All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Highland, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.
Antenna and amplifier advice for Highland
The farthest main network tower for Highland is KTVI (Fox), 40 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.
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 Highland
Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.
| Station | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WXSL-LDLow power | 17 mi | 254° WSW | Fair | St. Louis, MO |
| W36EX-DClass A | 26 mi | 298° WNW | Fair | Alton, IL |
| WPXSFull power | 28 mi | 205° SSW | Good | Mount Vernon, IL |
| W09DL-DLow power | 28 mi | 205° SSW | Weak | Mount Vernon, IL |
| WLEH-LDLow power | 28 mi | 205° SSW | Fair | St., IL |
| KEFN-CDClass A | 29 mi | 255° WSW | Fair | St. Louis, MO |
| KDTL-LDLow power | 37 mi | 247° WSW | Weak | St. Louis, MO |
| KUMO-LDLow power | 37 mi | 252° WSW | Weak | St Louis, MO |
| KPTN-LDLow power | 37 mi | 252° WSW | Poor | St. Louis, MO |
| KBGU-LDLow power | 37 mi | 252° WSW | Weak | St. Louis, MO |
| K15KP-DLow power | 38 mi | 252° WSW | Weak | St. Louis, MO |
| W29CI-DClass A | 38 mi | 108° ESE | Weak | Salem, IL |
| K25NG-DClass A | 40 mi | 264° W | Weak | St. Louis, MO |
| KETCFull power | 43 mi | 246° WSW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
| WSIU-TVFull power | 50 mi | 152° SSE | Fair | Carbondale, IL |
| WEDK-LDLow power | 61 mi | 66° ENE | Poor | Effingham, IL |
| KDKZ-LDLow power | 62 mi | 235° SW | Poor | Farmington, MO |
| WSECFull power | 63 mi | 342° NNW | Weak | Jacksonville, IL |
| W29ES-DTranslator | 63 mi | 342° NNW | Poor | Jacksonville, IL |
How Highland compares with the rest of Illinois
With 14 stations at fair strength or better, Highland ranks 455th of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 37 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.
54% of Illinois's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Edwardsville, 16 miles away.
Setting up an antenna in Highland: step by step
- Mount the antenna in the attic or high on the wall facing the towers, keeping the cable to the TV as short as you can.
- Point it toward 250° WSW, the direction of KTVI (Fox), 40 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 Highland, IL?
ABC is on channel 30 from KDNL-TV, broadcasting from 37 miles WSW of Highland. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is CBS in Highland, IL?
CBS is on channel 4 from KMOV, broadcasting from 37 miles WSW of Highland. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is NBC in Highland, IL?
NBC is on channel 5 from KSDK, broadcasting from 38 miles WSW of Highland. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is Fox in Highland, IL?
Fox is on channel 2 from KTVI, broadcasting from 40 miles WSW of Highland. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is CW in Highland, IL?
CW is on channel 11 from KPLR-TV, broadcasting from 40 miles WSW of Highland. Estimated signal: good.
How many channels can I get with an antenna in Highland?
27 transmitters within 70 miles of Highland; around 14 of them are likely to be receivable with amplified indoor or attic 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 Highland?
Point your antenna WSW, at about 250°. The main network towers for Highland sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
What kind of antenna do I need in Highland?
Amplified indoor or attic antenna (25–45 miles). Towers are at medium range. An amplified indoor antenna can work; an attic-mounted antenna is the safer choice.
Do I need an antenna amplifier in Highland?
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 Highland?
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
- Troy11 mi
- Breese12 mi
- Maryville15 mi
- Edwardsville16 mi
- O'Fallon16 mi
- Glen Carbon17 mi
- Shiloh17 mi
- Greenville17 mi
- Collinsville18 mi
- Mascoutah18 mi
- Staunton20 mi
- Fairview Heights20 mi
- Pontoon Beach22 mi
- Okawville22 mi
- Swansea22 mi
- Belleville23 mi
- Bethalto23 mi
- Wood River24 mi
- East Alton26 mi
- Granite City26 mi
- Centreville27 mi
- East Saint Louis27 mi
- Upper Alton28 mi
Nearby cities in other states
More: all TV stations in Illinois · Midwest region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Highland; signal estimates ignore terrain.