TV channels & antenna towers in Kankakee, Illinois

Kankakee has 35 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 WYIN, 29 miles to the ENE.

Open Kankakee in the live finder

35TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

29 mito the closest tower

26,676population

Network channels in Kankakee

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWFLDFox	32	54 mi	12° NNE	Good	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	54 mi	12° NNE	Good	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	54 mi	12° NNE	Good	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	54 mi	12° NNE	Poor	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	54 mi	12° NNE	Good	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	54 mi	12° NNE	Good	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	54 mi	12° NNE	Fair	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	54 mi	12° NNE	Good	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	54 mi	12° NNE	Good	Chicago, IL
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	55 mi	13° NNE	Good	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	55 mi	13° NNE	Poor	Chicago, IL

Over-the-air TV in Kankakee

Kankakee, Illinois has a population of about 26,700. There are 35 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 15 full-power, 7 Class A, 12 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 11 at good or strong strength.

0 of them are within 25 miles of Kankakee, 1 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 34 are more than 45 miles 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.

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 (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 Kankakee

Point your antenna NNE, at about 12°. The main network towers for Kankakee 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 54 miles north of Kankakee (12° NNE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 9 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Kankakee 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 Kankakee, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

Antenna and amplifier advice for Kankakee

The farthest main network tower for Kankakee is WBBM-TV (CBS), 54 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

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 Kankakee

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WYINFull power	29 mi	56° ENE	Good	Gary, IN
WODN-LDLow power	49 mi	45° NE	Poor	Portage, IN
WAAA-LDLow power	52 mi	57° ENE	Poor	Valparaiso, IN
WAUR-LDLow power	53 mi	316° NW	Poor	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	53 mi	316° NW	Poor	Earlville, IL
WTTWFull power	54 mi	12° NNE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power	54 mi	12° NNE	Good	Gary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A	54 mi	12° NNE	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A	54 mi	12° NNE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WJYSFull power	54 mi	12° NNE	Fair	Hammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power	54 mi	12° NNE	Good	Aurora, IL
WDCI-LDLow power	54 mi	13° NNE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WCHU-LDLow power	55 mi	13° NNE	Poor	Oakwood Hills, IL
WWTO-TVFull power	55 mi	13° NNE	Weak	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	55 mi	13° NNE	Poor	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	55 mi	13° NNE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	55 mi	13° NNE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	55 mi	13° NNE	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	55 mi	13° NNE	Poor	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	55 mi	13° NNE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	55 mi	13° NNE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A	55 mi	13° NNE	Poor	Plano, IL
W23EQ-DTranslator	67 mi	173° S	Poor	Danville, IL
W07DD-DLow power	70 mi	199° SSW	Poor	Champaign, IL

How Kankakee compares with the rest of Illinois

With 14 stations at fair strength or better, Kankakee ranks 455th of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 54 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, 30 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Kankakee: 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 12° NNE, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 54 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 Kankakee, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 54 miles NNE of Kankakee. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Kankakee, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 54 miles NNE of Kankakee. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Kankakee, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 54 miles NNE of Kankakee. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Kankakee, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 54 miles NNE of Kankakee. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Kankakee, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 54 miles NNE of Kankakee. Estimated signal: good.

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

35 transmitters within 70 miles of Kankakee; around 14 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 Kankakee?

Point your antenna NNE, at about 12°. The main network towers for Kankakee sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Kankakee?

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 Kankakee?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Kankakee?

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

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 Kankakee; signal estimates ignore terrain.