TV channels & antenna towers in North Pekin, Illinois

North Pekin has 27 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 15 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WTVP, 2.9 miles to the ENE.

Open North Pekin in the live finder

27TV transmitters within 70 miles

8networks over the air

2.9 mito the closest tower

1,569population

Network channels in North Pekin

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
MeTVWHOIMeTV	19.6	4.0 mi	76° ENE	Strong	Peoria, IL
CWWEEK-TVCW	25.3	4.0 mi	76° ENE	Strong	Peoria, IL
CBSWMBD-TVCBS	31	4.6 mi	73° ENE	Strong	Peoria, IL
FOXWYZZ-TVFox	43	23 mi	85° E	Strong	Bloomington, IL
IONWCQA-LDION	16.4	50 mi	152° SSE	Poor	Springfield, IL
ABCWICSABC	20	57 mi	171° S	Good	Springfield, IL
FOXWRSP-TVFox	55	57 mi	171° S	Good	Springfield, IL
NBCWANDNBC	17	62 mi	137° SE	Fair	Decatur, IL
CWWBUICW	23	62 mi	138° SE	Fair	Decatur, IL
FOXKLJBFox	18	62 mi	321° NW	Fair	Davenport, IA
ABCWQAD-TVABC	8	62 mi	321° NW	Fair	Moline, IL
TBNWMWC-TVTrinity	53	62 mi	321° NW	Weak	Galesburg, IL
CWKGCWCW	26	63 mi	322° NW	Fair	Burlington, IA

Over-the-air TV in North Pekin

With roughly 1,570 residents, North Pekin is a small community in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 27 licensed TV transmitters: 18 full-power and 9 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 15 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 9 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 7 transmitters are within 25 miles, 0 between 25 and 45 miles, and 20 farther out. Three of the 13 network stations in range are licensed to Peoria, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Peoria's stations.

The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 20 (WICS), CBS on channel 31 (WMBD-TV), NBC on channel 17 (WAND), 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). 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 North Pekin

Point your antenna ENE, at about 79°. The main network towers for North Pekin sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Three network stations, WHOI, WEEK-TV and WMBD-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 4.0 miles east of North Pekin (76° ENE). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 11 full-power and Class A network signals that reach North Pekin at fair strength or better, 36% arrive from the east; the rest are spread across three other directions.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for North Pekin

The farthest main network tower for North Pekin is WYZZ-TV (Fox), 23 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WICS (ABC), 57 miles south and WAND (NBC), 62 miles southeast, 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.

WTVP is only 2.9 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 North Pekin

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WTVPFull power	2.9 mi	71° ENE	Strong	Peoria, IL
W27EQ-DLow power	7.7 mi	86° E	Good	Peoria, IL
WSIO-LDLow power	9.1 mi	343° NNW	Good	Peoria, IL
W31EH-DLow power	55 mi	181° S	Poor	Springfield, IL
W27ES-DLow power	55 mi	181° S	Poor	Springfield, IL
WCIXFull power	57 mi	174° S	Poor	Springfield, IL
WEAE-LDLow power	58 mi	179° S	Poor	Springfield, IL
W23EW-DLow power	60 mi	175° S	Poor	Springfield, IL
WMECFull power	60 mi	256° WSW	Poor	Macomb, IL
WLCF-LDLow power	61 mi	139° SE	Poor	Decatur, IL
WQPT-TVFull power	62 mi	321° NW	Fair	Moline, IL
KQINFull power	62 mi	321° NW	Weak	Davenport, IA
WILL-TVFull power	64 mi	128° SE	Poor	Urbana, IL
W19EE-DLow power	69 mi	206° SSW	Poor	Jacksonville, IL

How North Pekin compares with the rest of Illinois

With 15 stations at fair strength or better, North Pekin ranks 403rd of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 4.0 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 Pekin, 3.4 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in North Pekin: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 85° E, the direction of WYZZ-TV (Fox), 23 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 15 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 North Pekin, IL?

ABC is on channel 20 from WICS, broadcasting from 57 miles S of North Pekin. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in North Pekin, IL?

CBS is on channel 31 from WMBD-TV, broadcasting from 4.6 miles ENE of North Pekin. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is NBC in North Pekin, IL?

NBC is on channel 17 from WAND, broadcasting from 62 miles SE of North Pekin. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is Fox in North Pekin, IL?

Fox is on channel 43 from WYZZ-TV, broadcasting from 23 miles E of North Pekin. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in North Pekin, IL?

CW is on channel 25.3 from WEEK-TV, broadcasting from 4.0 miles ENE of North Pekin. Estimated signal: strong.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in North Pekin?

27 transmitters within 70 miles of North Pekin; around 15 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 North Pekin?

Point your antenna ENE, at about 79°. The main network towers for North Pekin sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in North Pekin?

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 62 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in North Pekin?

Is there an app to find TV towers in North Pekin?

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 North Pekin; signal estimates ignore terrain.