TV channels & antenna towers in Winnetka, Illinois

Winnetka has 46 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 28 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WWTO-TV, 16 miles to the SSE.

Open Winnetka in the live finder

46TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

16 mito the closest tower

12,472population

Network channels in Winnetka

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
UNIWGBO-DTUnivision	66	16 mi	158° SSE	Strong	Joliet, IL
IONKPDS-LDION	49.4	16 mi	158° SSE	Weak	Chicago, IL
FOXWFLDFox	32	17 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
NBCWMAQ-TVNBC	5	17 mi	162° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
TLMWSNS-TVTelemundo	44	17 mi	162° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
MeTVWWME-CDMeTV	23.1	17 mi	162° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
MeTVWCIU-TVMeTV	26.3	17 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
CWWGN-TVCW	9	17 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
CBSWBBM-TVCBS	2	17 mi	162° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
IONWCPX-TVION	38	17 mi	162° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
ABCWLS-TVABC	7	17 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Chicago, IL
IONWPXE-TVION	55	68 mi	353° N	Weak	Kenosha, WI
FOXWITIFox	6	68 mi	353° N	Weak	Milwaukee, WI
NBCWTMJ-TVNBC	4	68 mi	353° N	Weak	Milwaukee, WI
CWWVTVCW	18	69 mi	353° N	Weak	Milwaukee, WI

Over-the-air TV in Winnetka

Winnetka is a town of about 12,500 people in Illinois. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 46 licensed TV transmitters: 23 full-power, 8 Class A and 15 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.

28 of them are within 25 miles of Winnetka, 1 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 17 are more than 45 miles 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 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 (strong signal). 10 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 Winnetka

Point your antenna SSE, at about 162°. The main network towers for Winnetka sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Ten network stations, WGBO-DT, WFLD, WMAQ-TV, WSNS-TV and WWME-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 16 miles south of Winnetka (158° SSE). 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 Winnetka at fair strength or better, all arrive from the south, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Winnetka

The farthest main network tower for Winnetka is WBBM-TV (CBS), 17 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

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.

Other stations near Winnetka

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 31; see all in the finder.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WWTO-TVFull power	16 mi	158° SSE	Fair	Naperville, IL
WOCK-CDClass A	16 mi	158° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
W31EZ-DLow power	16 mi	158° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WESV-LDLow power	16 mi	158° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WRJK-LDLow power	16 mi	158° SSE	Fair	Arlington Heights, IL
W27EB-DClass A	16 mi	158° SSE	Fair	Sugar Grove, IL
WRME-LDLow power	16 mi	158° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WPVN-CDClass A	16 mi	158° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WLPD-CDClass A	16 mi	158° SSE	Fair	Plano, IL
WCHU-LDLow power	16 mi	160° SSE	Fair	Oakwood Hills, IL
WDCI-LDLow power	16 mi	159° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WTTWFull power	17 mi	162° SSE	Good	Chicago, IL
WPWR-TVFull power	17 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Gary, IN
WEDE-CDClass A	17 mi	162° SSE	Fair	Arlington Heights, IL
WMEU-CDClass A	17 mi	162° SSE	Fair	Chicago, IL
WJYSFull power	17 mi	162° SSE	Good	Hammond, IN
WXFT-DTFull power	17 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Aurora, IL
WODN-LDLow power	44 mi	140° SE	Poor	Portage, IN
WAUR-LDLow power	53 mi	235° SW	Poor	Aurora, IL
WSPY-LDLow power	53 mi	235° SW	Poor	Earlville, IL
WAAA-LDLow power	55 mi	138° SE	Poor	Valparaiso, IN
WYINFull power	55 mi	162° SSE	Fair	Gary, IN
WDMW-LDLow power	64 mi	339° NNW	Poor	Milwaukee, WI
WTAS-LDLow power	64 mi	339° NNW	Poor	Waukesha, WI
WVCY-TVFull power	68 mi	353° N	Weak	Milwaukee, WI

How Winnetka compares with the rest of Illinois

With 28 stations at fair strength or better, Winnetka ranks 70th of 766 places in Illinois: more than the typical Illinois town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 16 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 Wilmette, 2.6 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Winnetka: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 162° SSE, the direction of WBBM-TV (CBS), 17 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 28 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 Winnetka, IL?

ABC is on channel 7 from WLS-TV, broadcasting from 17 miles SSE of Winnetka. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CBS in Winnetka, IL?

CBS is on channel 2 from WBBM-TV, broadcasting from 17 miles SSE of Winnetka. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Winnetka, IL?

NBC is on channel 5 from WMAQ-TV, broadcasting from 17 miles SSE of Winnetka. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Winnetka, IL?

Fox is on channel 32 from WFLD, broadcasting from 17 miles SSE of Winnetka. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Winnetka, IL?

CW is on channel 9 from WGN-TV, broadcasting from 17 miles SSE of Winnetka. Estimated signal: strong.

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

46 transmitters within 70 miles of Winnetka; around 28 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 Winnetka?

Point your antenna SSE, at about 162°. The main network towers for Winnetka sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Winnetka?

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 Winnetka?

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.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Winnetka?

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 Winnetka; signal estimates ignore terrain.