TV channels & antenna towers in Salem, Indiana

Salem has 22 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 17 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WRLW-CD, 0.8 miles to the ESE.

Open Salem in the live finder

22TV transmitters within 70 miles

6networks over the air

0.8 mito the closest tower

6,217population

Network channels in Salem

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
NBCWAVENBC	3	22 mi	138° SE	Strong	Louisville, KY
CBSWLKYCBS	32	22 mi	138° SE	Strong	Louisville, KY
ABCWHAS-TVABC	11	22 mi	141° SE	Fair	Louisville, KY
FOXWDRBFox	41	22 mi	142° SE	Strong	Louisville, KY
CWWBKICW	58	22 mi	142° SE	Strong	Salem, IN
IONWIPX-TVION	63	55 mi	357° N	Fair	Bloomington, IN
CBSWTTVCBS	4	55 mi	357° N	Good	Bloomington, IN

Over-the-air TV in Salem

Salem, Indiana has a population of about 6,220. There are 22 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 14 full-power, 4 Class A, 3 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 17 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 8 at good or strong strength.

12 of them are within 25 miles of Salem, 4 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 6 are more than 45 miles out. Four of the 7 network stations in range are licensed to Louisville, KY, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Louisville's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 11 (WHAS-TV), CBS on channel 32 (WLKY), NBC on channel 3 (WAVE), Fox on channel 41 (WDRB), CW on channel 58 (WBKI) and ION on channel 63 (WIPX-TV). 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 Salem

Point your antenna SE, at about 140°. The main network towers for Salem sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Five network stations, WAVE, WLKY, WHAS-TV, WDRB and WBKI, transmit from the same tower site about 22 miles southeast of Salem (138° SE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 7 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Salem at fair strength or better, 71% arrive from the southeast; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Salem

The farthest main network tower for Salem is WDRB (Fox), 22 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

WRLW-CD is only 0.8 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 Salem

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WRLW-CDClass A	0.8 mi	120° ESE	Strong	Salem, IN
WDYL-LDLow power	22 mi	140° SE	Fair	Louisville, KY
WBNM-LDTranslator	22 mi	140° SE	Fair	Louisville, KY
WJYL-CDClass A	22 mi	138° SE	Fair	Jeffersonville, IN
WMYO-CDClass A	22 mi	138° SE	Fair	Louisville, KY
WKPC-TVFull power	22 mi	138° SE	Good	Louisville, KY
WKMJ-TVFull power	22 mi	138° SE	Fair	Louisville, KY
WKUT-LDLow power	34 mi	164° SSE	Weak	Bowling Green, KY
WTIUFull power	43 mi	330° NNW	Good	Bloomington, IN
WBNAFull power	44 mi	155° SSE	Fair	Louisville, KY
WJTS-CDClass A	45 mi	250° WSW	Poor	Jasper, IN
WCLJ-TVFull power	55 mi	357° N	Fair	Bloomington, IN
WREP-LDLow power	60 mi	344° NNW	Poor	Martinsville, IN
WKZT-TVFull power	65 mi	167° SSE	Poor	Elizabethtown, KY
WKONFull power	70 mi	94° E	Poor	Owenton, KY

How Salem compares with the rest of Indiana

With 17 stations at fair strength or better, Salem ranks 130th of 352 places in Indiana: more than the typical Indiana town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 22 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 New Albany, 27 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Salem: 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 142° SE, the direction of WDRB (Fox), 22 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 17 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 Salem, IN?

ABC is on channel 11 from WHAS-TV, broadcasting from 22 miles SE of Salem. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is CBS in Salem, IN?

CBS is on channel 32 from WLKY, broadcasting from 22 miles SE of Salem. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is NBC in Salem, IN?

NBC is on channel 3 from WAVE, broadcasting from 22 miles SE of Salem. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Salem, IN?

Fox is on channel 41 from WDRB, broadcasting from 22 miles SE of Salem. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Salem, IN?

CW is on channel 58 from WBKI, broadcasting from 22 miles SE of Salem. Estimated signal: strong.

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

22 transmitters within 70 miles of Salem; around 17 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 Salem?

Point your antenna SE, at about 140°. The main network towers for Salem sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Salem?

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.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Salem?

WRLW-CD is only 0.8 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.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Salem?

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

Nearby cities in other states

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