TV channels & antenna towers in Bowie, Maryland

Bowie has 49 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW. About 33 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is W10DE-D, 3.6 miles to the NNE.

Open Bowie in the live finder

49TV transmitters within 70 miles

10networks over the air

3.6 mito the closest tower

58,025population

Network channels in Bowie

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
ABCWJLA-TVABC	7	19 mi	272° W	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWHUT-TVPBS	32	19 mi	272° W	Good	Washington, DC
CBSWUSACBS	9	19 mi	272° W	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWETA-TVPBS	26	19 mi	272° W	Strong	Washington, DC
MeTVWDME-CDMeTV	48.1	19 mi	270° W	Fair	Washington, DC
CWWDCWCW	50	19 mi	270° W	Strong	Washington, DC
NBCWRC-TVNBC	4	19 mi	270° W	Strong	Washington, DC
TLMWZDC-CDTelemundo	44	19 mi	270° W	Strong	Washington, DC
UNIWFDC-DTUnivision	14	19 mi	270° W	Strong	Arlington, VA
FOXWTTGFox	5	20 mi	274° W	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWPXW-TVION	66	20 mi	274° W	Strong	Manassas, VA
CBSWJZ-TVCBS	13	27 mi	9° N	Fair	Baltimore, MD
ABCWMAR-TVABC	2	27 mi	9° N	Good	Baltimore, MD
NBCWBAL-TVNBC	11	27 mi	9° N	Fair	Baltimore, MD
CWWNUVCW	54	28 mi	9° N	Good	Baltimore, MD
FOXWBFFFox	45	28 mi	9° N	Good	Baltimore, MD
IONWWPX-TVION	60	59 mi	290° WNW	Poor	Martinsburg, WV
CWWMDTCW	47.2	62 mi	119° ESE	Weak	Salisbury, MD
PBSWDPBPBS	64	63 mi	108° ESE	Poor	Seaford, DE
FOXWBOC-TVFox	21.2	66 mi	117° ESE	Weak	Salisbury, MD
NBCWRDE-LDNBC	31	66 mi	117° ESE	Poor	Salisbury, MD
FOXWBOC-LDFox	21.2	66 mi	117° ESE	Poor	Cambridge, MD

Over-the-air TV in Bowie

Bowie is a city of about 58,000 people in Maryland. There are 49 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 26 full-power, 6 Class A and 17 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 33 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 20 at good or strong strength.

23 of them are within 25 miles of Bowie, 14 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 12 are more than 45 miles out. Nine of the 22 network stations in range are licensed to Washington, DC, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Washington's stations.

The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 2 (WMAR-TV), CBS on channel 9 (WUSA), NBC on channel 4 (WRC-TV), Fox on channel 5 (WTTG), PBS on channel 26 (WETA-TV), CW on channel 50 (WDCW), ION on channel 66 (WPXW-TV), Telemundo on channel 44 (WZDC-CD), Univision on channel 14 (WFDC-DT) and MeTV on channel 48.1 (WDME-CD). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (strong signal) and Univision (strong signal). 8 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 Bowie

The main network towers around Bowie are in different directions: ABC 9° N (27 mi), CBS 272° W (19 mi), NBC 270° W (19 mi), Fox 274° W (20 mi) and PBS 272° W (19 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

11 network stations, WJLA-TV, WHUT-TV, WUSA, WETA-TV and WDME-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 19 miles west of Bowie (272° W). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 16 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Bowie at fair strength or better, 69% arrive from the west; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Bowie

The farthest main network tower for Bowie is WMAR-TV (ABC), 27 miles away with a good 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.

WMPT is only 8.0 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 Bowie

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 27; see all in the finder.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
W10DE-DLow power	3.6 mi	24° NNE	Good	Washington, DC
WMPTFull power	8.0 mi	54° NE	Strong	Annapolis, MD
WQAW-LDLow power	8.0 mi	54° NE	Good	Lake Shore, MD
WDDN-LDLow power	18 mi	283° WNW	Fair	Washington, DC
WJALFull power	19 mi	272° W	Good	Silver Spring, MD
WDCO-CDClass A	19 mi	270° W	Fair	Woodstock, VA
WIAV-CDClass A	19 mi	270° W	Good	Washington, DC
WMDO-CDClass A	19 mi	270° W	Fair	Washington, DC
WRZB-LDLow power	19 mi	270° W	Fair	Washington, DC
WWTD-LDLow power	19 mi	270° W	Fair	Washington, DC
WDCAFull power	20 mi	274° W	Strong	Washington, DC
WDWA-LDLow power	22 mi	306° NW	Weak	Damascus, VA
WDCN-LDLow power	27 mi	260° W	Weak	Fairfax, VA
WUTBFull power	28 mi	9° N	Good	Baltimore, MD
WMJF-CDClass A	33 mi	12° NNE	Fair	Towson, MD
W13DW-DLow power	34 mi	88° E	Poor	Annapolis, MD
WMDEFull power	34 mi	88° E	Fair	Dover, DE
WMPBFull power	35 mi	356° N	Fair	Baltimore, MD
WFPTFull power	38 mi	305° NW	Fair	Frederick, MD
WLZH-LDLow power	41 mi	13° NNE	Poor	Baltimore, MD
W14DK-DLow power	42 mi	120° ESE	Poor	Dagsboro, DE
WWDD-LDLow power	47 mi	33° NNE	Poor	Baltimore, MD
WOWZ-LDLow power	62 mi	119° ESE	Poor	Salisbury, MD
WGDV-LDLow power	62 mi	119° ESE	Poor	Salisbury, MD
WLZH-LDLow power	67 mi	7° N	Poor	Harrisburg/Lancaster, PA

How Bowie compares with the rest of Maryland

With 33 stations at fair strength or better, Bowie ranks 50th of 346 places in Maryland: more than the typical Maryland town (32). Its nearest major network tower is 19 miles away, against a state median of 16 miles.

66% of Maryland's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Washington, D.C., 17 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Bowie: 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 9° N, the direction of WMAR-TV (ABC), 27 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 33 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 Bowie, MD?

ABC is on channel 2 from WMAR-TV, broadcasting from 27 miles N of Bowie. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Bowie, MD?

CBS is on channel 9 from WUSA, broadcasting from 19 miles W of Bowie. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Bowie, MD?

NBC is on channel 4 from WRC-TV, broadcasting from 19 miles W of Bowie. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Bowie, MD?

Fox is on channel 5 from WTTG, broadcasting from 20 miles W of Bowie. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is PBS in Bowie, MD?

PBS is on channel 26 from WETA-TV, broadcasting from 19 miles W of Bowie. Estimated signal: strong.

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

49 transmitters within 70 miles of Bowie; around 33 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 Bowie?

What kind of antenna do I need in Bowie?

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. The towers are spread over about 99° of the compass, so a multi-directional antenna or a rotator will help.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Bowie?

WMPT is only 8.0 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 Bowie?

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 Maryland cities

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