TV channels & antenna towers in Rochester, Indiana

Rochester has 33 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and Telemundo. About 10 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WHME-TV (Univision), 37 miles to the N.

Open Rochester in the live finder

33TV transmitters within 70 miles

7networks over the air

37 mito the closest tower

6,065population

Network channels in Rochester

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
UNIWHME-TVUnivision	46	37 mi	4° N	Good	South Bend, IN
NBCWNDU-TVNBC	16	37 mi	0° N	Good	South Bend, IN
CWWCWW-LDCW	25	38 mi	2° N	Weak	South Bend, IN
ABCWBND-LDABC	57	38 mi	2° N	Weak	South Bend, IN
TLMWMYS-LDTelemundo	69.2	38 mi	2° N	Weak	South Bend, IN
FOXWSBT-TVFox	22.2	38 mi	360° N	Good	South Bend, IN
CWWLFI-TVCW	18.2	51 mi	204° SSW	Weak	Lafayette, IN
FOXWFFT-TVFox	55	53 mi	86° E	Fair	Fort Wayne, IN
CWWISE-TVCW	33	54 mi	87° E	Fair	Fort Wayne, IN
ABCWPTAABC	21	54 mi	87° E	Fair	Fort Wayne, IN
CBSWANE-TVCBS	15	54 mi	88° E	Fair	Fort Wayne, IN
ABCWPBI-CDABC	16.3	57 mi	216° SW	Poor	Lafayette, IN
ABCWPBY-CDABC	35	57 mi	216° SW	Poor	Lafayette, IN

Over-the-air TV in Rochester

Rochester is a town of about 6,070 people in Indiana. There are 33 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 12 full-power, 3 Class A, 17 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 10 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 4 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 0 transmitters are within 25 miles, 10 between 25 and 45 miles, and 23 farther out. Six of the 13 network stations in range are licensed to South Bend, so most of the network channels you will find here come from South Bend's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 21 (WPTA), CBS on channel 15 (WANE-TV), NBC on channel 16 (WNDU-TV), Fox on channel 22.2 (WSBT-TV), CW on channel 33 (WISE-TV), Telemundo on channel 69.2 (WMYS-LD) and Univision on channel 46 (WHME-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (weak signal) and Univision (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 Rochester

Point your antenna N, at about 0°. The main network towers for Rochester sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Two network stations, WNDU-TV and WSBT-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 37 miles north of Rochester (0° N). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 7 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Rochester at fair strength or better, 57% arrive from the east; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Rochester

The farthest main network tower for Rochester is WSBT-TV (Fox), 38 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here.

WPTA (ABC), 54 miles east and WANE-TV (CBS), 54 miles east, 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.

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 Rochester

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WNITFull power	38 mi	2° N	Fair	South Bend, IN
WSJVFull power	38 mi	360° N	Good	Elkhart, IN
WSOT-LDLow power	42 mi	132° SE	Poor	Marion, IN
WEID-LDLow power	43 mi	11° N	Poor	South Bend, IN
WAAA-LDLow power	52 mi	307° NW	Poor	Valparaiso, IN
WLMO-LDLow power	53 mi	87° E	Poor	Fort Wayne, IN
WFWAFull power	53 mi	87° E	Fair	Fort Wayne, IN
WEIJ-LDTranslator	53 mi	87° E	Poor	Fort Wayne, IN
W22FH-DLow power	54 mi	87° E	Poor	Fort Wayne, IN
WFWC-CDClass A	56 mi	87° E	Poor	Fort Wayne, IN
WCUH-LDLow power	56 mi	87° E	Poor	Fort Wayne, IN
W30EH-DLow power	56 mi	87° E	Poor	Fort Wayne, IN
W25FH-DLow power	56 mi	87° E	Poor	Fort Wayne, IN
WODP-LDLow power	56 mi	87° E	Poor	Fort Wayne, IN
WEZY-LDLow power	61 mi	186° S	Poor	Indianapolis, IN
WYGN-LDLow power	62 mi	354° N	Poor	Berrien Springs, MI
W26DH-DLow power	63 mi	73° ENE	Poor	Auburn, IN
WODN-LDLow power	64 mi	308° NW	Poor	Portage, IN
WYINFull power	65 mi	288° WNW	Weak	Gary, IN
WNHO-LDLow power	70 mi	96° E	Poor	Fort Wayne, IN

How Rochester compares with the rest of Indiana

With 10 stations at fair strength or better, Rochester ranks 292nd of 352 places in Indiana: fewer than the typical Indiana town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 37 miles away, against a state median of 25 miles.

51% of Indiana's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Kokomo, 40 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Rochester: step by step

Mount the antenna in the attic or high on the wall facing the towers, keeping the cable to the TV as short as you can.
Point it toward 360° N, the direction of WSBT-TV (Fox), 38 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 10 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 Rochester, IN?

ABC is on channel 21 from WPTA, broadcasting from 54 miles E of Rochester. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is CBS in Rochester, IN?

CBS is on channel 15 from WANE-TV, broadcasting from 54 miles E of Rochester. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is NBC in Rochester, IN?

NBC is on channel 16 from WNDU-TV, broadcasting from 37 miles N of Rochester. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Rochester, IN?

Fox is on channel 22.2 from WSBT-TV, broadcasting from 38 miles N of Rochester. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Rochester, IN?

CW is on channel 33 from WISE-TV, broadcasting from 54 miles E of Rochester. Estimated signal: fair.

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

33 transmitters within 70 miles of Rochester; around 10 of them are likely to be receivable with amplified indoor or attic 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 Rochester?

Point your antenna N, at about 0°. The main network towers for Rochester sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Rochester?

Amplified indoor or attic antenna (25–45 miles). Towers are at medium range. An amplified indoor antenna can work; an attic-mounted antenna is the safer choice. Picking up ABC and CBS from up to 54 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Rochester?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Rochester?

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 Indiana cities

More: all TV stations in Indiana · Midwest region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Rochester; signal estimates ignore terrain.