TV channels & antenna towers in Thornton, Illinois

Thornton is a small community of about 2,490 people in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 33 licensed TV transmitters: 15 full-power, 7 Class A and 11 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 28 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.

30 of them are within 25 miles of Thornton, 1 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 2 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.

The strongest network signals here 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.

Point your antenna N, at about 356°. The main network towers for Thornton sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Ten network stations, WBBM-TV, WCPX-TV, WLS-TV, WFLD and WMAQ-TV and others, transmit from the same tower site about 22 miles north of Thornton (356° N). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Thornton 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 Thornton, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

The farthest main network tower for Thornton is WFLD (Fox), 22 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

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.

With 28 stations at fair strength or better, Thornton ranks 70th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 22 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 South Holland, 2.3 miles away.