TV channels & antenna towers in Prairie City, Iowa

Prairie City, Iowa has a population of about 1,710. Our map shows 17 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 9 full-power, 2 Class A, 4 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 16 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 4 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 10 transmitters are within 25 miles, 5 between 25 and 45 miles, and 2 farther out. Three of the 6 network stations in range are licensed to Des Moines, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Des Moines's stations.

The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 5 (WOI-DT), CBS on channel 8 (KCCI), NBC on channel 13 (WHO-DT), Fox on channel 17 (KDSM-TV), CW on channel 23 (KCWI-TV) and ION on channel 39 (KFPX-TV). 3 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 NW, at about 307°. The main network towers for Prairie City sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Six network stations, WOI-DT, WHO-DT, KCCI, KFPX-TV and KCWI-TV and others, transmit from the same tower site about 24 miles northwest of Prairie City (307° NW). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 6 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Prairie City at fair strength or better, all arrive from the northwest, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

The farthest main network tower for Prairie City is KDSM-TV (Fox), 25 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.

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 16 stations at fair strength or better, Prairie City ranks 13th of 285 places in Iowa: more than the typical Iowa town (11). Its nearest major network tower is 24 miles away, against a state median of 34 miles.

44% of Iowa's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Des Moines, 19 miles away.