TV channels & antenna towers in Seneca, Illinois

Seneca has 39 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 16 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WAUR-LD, 25 miles to the N.

Open Seneca in the live finder

39TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

25 mito the closest tower

2,292population

Network channels in Seneca

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWYZZ-TVFox	43	55 mi	213° SSW	Good	Bloomington, IL
FOXWFLDFox	32	64 mi	52° NE	Good	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	64 mi	52° NE	Fair	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	64 mi	52° NE	Fair	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	64 mi	52° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	64 mi	52° NE	Good	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	64 mi	52° NE	Good	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	64 mi	52° NE	Fair	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	64 mi	52° NE	Good	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	64 mi	52° NE	Good	Chicago, IL
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	65 mi	51° NE	Fair	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	65 mi	51° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
CBSWMBD-TVCBS	31	67 mi	226° SW	Poor	Peoria, IL
MeTVWHOIMeTV	19.6	68 mi	226° SW	Poor	Peoria, IL
CWWEEK-TVCW	25.3	68 mi	226° SW	Poor	Peoria, IL

Over-the-air TV in Seneca

With roughly 2,290 residents, Seneca is a small community in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 39 licensed TV transmitters: 20 full-power, 7 Class A and 12 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 16 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 8 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 2 transmitters are within 25 miles, 0 between 25 and 45 miles, and 37 farther out. Ten of the 15 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 (fair signal) and Univision (fair signal). 7 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 Seneca

Point your antenna NE, at about 52°. The main network towers for Seneca 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 64 miles northeast of Seneca (52° NE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Seneca at fair strength or better, 90% arrive from the northeast; the rest are spread across one other direction.

WFLD (Fox) lies beyond the radio horizon of its transmitter as seen from Seneca. Past that point signals fade quickly, so antenna height matters more than amplification.

Antenna and amplifier advice for Seneca

The farthest main network tower for Seneca is WBBM-TV (CBS), 64 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

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 Seneca

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WAUR-LDLow power	25 mi	4° N	Fair	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	25 mi	4° N	Fair	Earlville, IL
WYINFull power	63 mi	87° E	Weak	Gary, IN
WTTWFull power	64 mi	52° NE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power	64 mi	52° NE	Good	Gary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A	64 mi	52° NE	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A	64 mi	52° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WJYSFull power	64 mi	52° NE	Fair	Hammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power	64 mi	52° NE	Good	Aurora, IL
WCHU-LDLow power	65 mi	52° NE	Poor	Oakwood Hills, IL
WDCI-LDLow power	65 mi	52° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WWTO-TVFull power	65 mi	51° NE	Poor	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	65 mi	51° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	65 mi	51° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	65 mi	51° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	65 mi	51° NE	Poor	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	65 mi	51° NE	Poor	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	65 mi	51° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	65 mi	51° NE	Poor	Chicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A	65 mi	51° NE	Poor	Plano, IL
W27EJ-DLow power	66 mi	309° NW	Poor	Sterling, IL
W27EQ-DLow power	66 mi	224° SW	Poor	Peoria, IL
WSIO-LDLow power	68 mi	235° SW	Poor	Peoria, IL
WTVPFull power	69 mi	227° SW	Poor	Peoria, IL

How Seneca compares with the rest of Illinois

With 16 stations at fair strength or better, Seneca ranks 386th of 766 places in Illinois: fewer than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 55 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 Oswego, 29 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Seneca: 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 52° NE, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 64 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 16 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 Seneca, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 64 miles NE of Seneca. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Seneca, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 64 miles NE of Seneca. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Seneca, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 64 miles NE of Seneca. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is Fox in Seneca, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 64 miles NE of Seneca. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Seneca, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 64 miles NE of Seneca. Estimated signal: good.

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

39 transmitters within 70 miles of Seneca; around 16 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 Seneca?

Point your antenna NE, at about 52°. The main network towers for Seneca sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Seneca?

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 Seneca?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Seneca?

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 Seneca; signal estimates ignore terrain.