TV channels & antenna towers in Madison, Illinois
Madison has 27 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 20 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is KEFN-CD, 4.1 miles to the SSW.
Network channels in Madison
| Station | Channel | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABCKDNL-TVABC | 30 | 12 mi | 233° SW | Strong | St. Louis, MO |
| TLMWODK-LDTelemundo | 45 | 12 mi | 231° SW | Good | Saint Louis, MO |
| NBCKSDKNBC | 5 | 12 mi | 230° SW | Strong | St. Louis, MO |
| CBSKMOVCBS | 4 | 13 mi | 216° SW | Strong | St. Louis, MO |
| CWKPLR-TVCW | 11 | 15 mi | 229° SW | Strong | St. Louis, MO |
| FOXKTVIFox | 2 | 15 mi | 229° SW | Strong | St. Louis, MO |
| IONWRBUION | 46 | 27 mi | 221° SW | Good | East St. Louis, IL |
| MeTVKNLCMeTV | 24.1 | 31 mi | 224° SW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
Over-the-air TV in Madison
With roughly 3,870 residents, Madison is a town 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, 20 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 15 at good or strong strength.
By distance, 16 transmitters are within 25 miles, 6 between 25 and 45 miles, and 5 farther 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.
The strongest network signals here 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 (good 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 Madison
Point your antenna SW, at about 227°. The main network towers for Madison 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 12 miles southwest of Madison (233° SW). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.
Of the 7 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Madison at fair strength or better, all arrive from the southwest, so this is an easy place to aim.
All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Madison, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.
Antenna and amplifier advice for Madison
The farthest main network tower for Madison is KTVI (Fox), 15 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.
KDNL-TV is only 12 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 Madison
Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.
| Station | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEFN-CDClass A | 4.1 mi | 206° SSW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
| WXSL-LDLow power | 9.8 mi | 94° E | Good | St. Louis, MO |
| KUMO-LDLow power | 12 mi | 231° SW | Good | St Louis, MO |
| KPTN-LDLow power | 12 mi | 231° SW | Fair | St. Louis, MO |
| KBGU-LDLow power | 12 mi | 231° SW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
| K15KP-DLow power | 12 mi | 230° SW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
| KDTL-LDLow power | 13 mi | 216° SW | Fair | St. Louis, MO |
| K25NG-DClass A | 13 mi | 268° W | Fair | St. Louis, MO |
| W36EX-DClass A | 17 mi | 10° N | Fair | Alton, IL |
| KETCFull power | 19 mi | 223° SW | Good | St. Louis, MO |
| WPXSFull power | 26 mi | 147° SSE | Good | Mount Vernon, IL |
| W09DL-DLow power | 26 mi | 147° SSE | Weak | Mount Vernon, IL |
| WLEH-LDLow power | 26 mi | 147° SSE | Fair | St., IL |
| KDKZ-LDLow power | 40 mi | 217° SW | Poor | Farmington, MO |
| WVDM-LDLow power | 62 mi | 311° NW | Poor | Quincy, IL |
| W29CI-DClass A | 63 mi | 97° E | Poor | Salem, IL |
| WSIU-TVFull power | 64 mi | 129° SE | Poor | Carbondale, IL |
| WSECFull power | 64 mi | 5° N | Weak | Jacksonville, IL |
| W29ES-DTranslator | 64 mi | 5° N | Poor | Jacksonville, IL |
How Madison compares with the rest of Illinois
With 20 stations at fair strength or better, Madison ranks 311th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 12 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 Granite City, 1.4 miles away.
Setting up an antenna in Madison: step by step
- Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
- Point it toward 229° SW, the direction of KTVI (Fox), 15 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 20 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 Madison, IL?
ABC is on channel 30 from KDNL-TV, broadcasting from 12 miles SW of Madison. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CBS in Madison, IL?
CBS is on channel 4 from KMOV, broadcasting from 13 miles SW of Madison. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is NBC in Madison, IL?
NBC is on channel 5 from KSDK, broadcasting from 12 miles SW of Madison. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is Fox in Madison, IL?
Fox is on channel 2 from KTVI, broadcasting from 15 miles SW of Madison. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CW in Madison, IL?
CW is on channel 11 from KPLR-TV, broadcasting from 15 miles SW of Madison. Estimated signal: strong.
How many channels can I get with an antenna in Madison?
27 transmitters within 70 miles of Madison; around 20 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 Madison?
Point your antenna SW, at about 227°. The main network towers for Madison sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
What kind of antenna do I need in Madison?
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 Madison?
KDNL-TV is only 12 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 Madison?
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
- Granite City1.4 mi
- East Saint Louis4.0 mi
- Pontoon Beach5.4 mi
- Centreville7.1 mi
- Cahokia7.9 mi
- Collinsville9.3 mi
- Glen Carbon10 mi
- Fairview Heights11 mi
Nearby cities in other states
- St. Louis, MO4.4 mi
- Glasgow Village, MO5.4 mi
- Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO5.5 mi
- Jennings, MO6.1 mi
- Spanish Lake, MO7.9 mi
- Dellwood, MO8.3 mi
- University City, MO8.4 mi
- Ferguson, MO9.1 mi
- Clayton, MO9.4 mi
- Richmond Heights, MO9.5 mi
- Black Jack, MO9.7 mi
- Maplewood, MO10 mi
- Saint Johns, MO10 mi
- Saint John, MO10 mi
- Berkeley, MO11 mi
- Overland, MO11 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 Madison; signal estimates ignore terrain.