TV channels & antenna towers in Charlestown, Maryland

Charlestown has 50 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW. About 24 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WWDD-LD, 15 miles to the WSW.

Open Charlestown in the live finder

50TV transmitters within 70 miles

10networks over the air

15 mito the closest tower

1,198population

Network channels in Charlestown

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
CWWNUVCW	54	40 mi	246° WSW	Good	Baltimore, MD
FOXWBFFFox	45	40 mi	246° WSW	Good	Baltimore, MD
CBSWJZ-TVCBS	13	40 mi	246° WSW	Fair	Baltimore, MD
ABCWMAR-TVABC	2	40 mi	246° WSW	Good	Baltimore, MD
NBCWBAL-TVNBC	11	40 mi	246° WSW	Fair	Baltimore, MD
NBCWGALNBC	8	47 mi	313° NW	Fair	Lancaster, PA
CBSKYW-TVCBS	3	51 mi	50° NE	Good	Philadelphia, PA
FOXWTXF-TVFox	29	51 mi	50° NE	Good	Philadelphia, PA
UNIWUVP-DTUnivision	65	51 mi	50° NE	Good	Vineland, NJ
CWWPHL-TVCW	17	51 mi	50° NE	Good	Philadelphia, PA
ABCWPVI-TVABC	6	51 mi	50° NE	Fair	Philadelphia, PA
IONWPPX-TVION	61	51 mi	50° NE	Good	Wilmington, DE
MeTVWDPN-TVMeTV	2.1	51 mi	50° NE	Fair	Wilmington, DE
TLMWWSITelemundo	62	51 mi	50° NE	Good	Mount Laurel, NJ
NBCWCAUNBC	10	51 mi	50° NE	Good	Philadelphia, PA
PBSWDPBPBS	64	66 mi	163° SSE	Poor	Seaford, DE

Over-the-air TV in Charlestown

With roughly 1,200 residents, Charlestown is a small community in Maryland. Our map shows 50 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 27 full-power, 6 Class A, 16 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 24 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 1 transmitter is within 25 miles, 13 between 25 and 45 miles, and 36 farther out. Five of the 16 network stations in range are licensed to Baltimore, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Baltimore's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 2 (WMAR-TV), CBS on channel 3 (KYW-TV), NBC on channel 10 (WCAU), Fox on channel 29 (WTXF-TV), PBS on channel 64 (WDPB), CW on channel 54 (WNUV), ION on channel 61 (WPPX-TV), Telemundo on channel 62 (WWSI), Univision on channel 65 (WUVP-DT) and MeTV on channel 2.1 (WDPN-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (good signal) and Univision (good signal). 11 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 Charlestown

The main network towers around Charlestown are in different directions: ABC 246° WSW (40 mi), CBS 50° NE (51 mi), NBC 50° NE (51 mi), Fox 50° NE (51 mi) and PBS 163° SSE (66 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Five network stations, WNUV, WBFF, WJZ-TV, WMAR-TV and WBAL-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 40 miles southwest of Charlestown (246° WSW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 15 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Charlestown at fair strength or better, 60% arrive from the northeast; the rest are spread across two other directions.

WDPB (PBS) lies beyond the radio horizon of its transmitter as seen from Charlestown. Past that point signals fade quickly, so antenna height matters more than amplification.

Antenna and amplifier advice for Charlestown

The farthest main network tower for Charlestown is WDPB (PBS), 66 miles away with a very weak estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

At this distance a low-noise preamplifier mounted on the mast, right below the antenna, helps more than an amplifier near the TV. It boosts the signal before cable loss eats into it. See the amplifier guide.

Other stations near Charlestown

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 34; see all in the finder.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WWDD-LDLow power	15 mi	254° WSW	Fair	Baltimore, MD
WLZH-LDLow power	31 mi	263° W	Weak	Baltimore, MD
WMJF-CDClass A	36 mi	251° WSW	Fair	Towson, MD
WUTBFull power	40 mi	246° WSW	Good	Baltimore, MD
WLZH-LDLow power	40 mi	306° NW	Poor	Harrisburg/Lancaster, PA
WLHY-LDLow power	40 mi	306° NW	Poor	Lebanon - Harrisburg - York - la-Caster, PA
WMDEFull power	43 mi	188° S	Weak	Dover, DE
W13DW-DLow power	43 mi	188° S	Poor	Annapolis, MD
WMPBFull power	44 mi	259° WSW	Fair	Baltimore, MD
WPSGFull power	51 mi	50° NE	Good	Philadelphia, PA
WPSJ-CDClass A	51 mi	50° NE	Poor	Hammonton, NJ
WQAV-CDClass A	51 mi	50° NE	Poor	Philadelphia, PA
WMCN-TVFull power	51 mi	50° NE	Fair	Princeton, NJ
WHYY-TVFull power	51 mi	50° NE	Fair	Wilmington, DE
WDUM-LDLow power	51 mi	50° NE	Poor	Philadelphia, PA
WTVEFull power	51 mi	50° NE	Fair	Willow Grove, PA
WPHA-CDClass A	51 mi	50° NE	Poor	Philadelphia, PA
W25FG-DLow power	51 mi	50° NE	Poor	Philadelphia, PA
WFPA-CDClass A	51 mi	50° NE	Poor	Philadelphia, PA
WPHY-CDClass A	51 mi	50° NE	Poor	Trenton, NJ
WELL-LDLow power	51 mi	50° NE	Poor	Philadelphia, PA
WMPTFull power	52 mi	221° SW	Good	Annapolis, MD
WQAW-LDLow power	52 mi	221° SW	Poor	Lake Shore, MD
W24CS-DTranslator	54 mi	4° N	Poor	Reading, PA
WEFG-LDLow power	54 mi	50° NE	Poor	Philadelphia, PA

How Charlestown compares with the rest of Maryland

With 24 stations at fair strength or better, Charlestown ranks 280th of 346 places in Maryland: fewer than the typical Maryland town (32). Its nearest major network tower is 40 miles away, against a state median of 16 miles.

12% of Maryland's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Newark, 14 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Charlestown: step by step

Mount an outdoor antenna on the roof or a mast, as high as you can safely get it, with a clear view toward the towers.
Point it toward 163° SSE, the direction of WDPB (PBS), 66 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 24 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 Charlestown, MD?

ABC is on channel 2 from WMAR-TV, broadcasting from 40 miles WSW of Charlestown. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Charlestown, MD?

CBS is on channel 3 from KYW-TV, broadcasting from 51 miles NE of Charlestown. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Charlestown, MD?

NBC is on channel 10 from WCAU, broadcasting from 51 miles NE of Charlestown. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Charlestown, MD?

Fox is on channel 29 from WTXF-TV, broadcasting from 51 miles NE of Charlestown. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is PBS in Charlestown, MD?

PBS is on channel 64 from WDPB, broadcasting from 66 miles SSE of Charlestown. Estimated signal: very weak.

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

50 transmitters within 70 miles of Charlestown; around 24 of them are likely to be receivable with outdoor directional 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 Charlestown?

What kind of antenna do I need in Charlestown?

Outdoor directional antenna (45–70 miles). Some major towers are a long way off. Mount a directional antenna on the roof or a mast and aim it with the bearings below. The towers are spread over about 196° of the compass, so a multi-directional antenna or a rotator will help.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Charlestown?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Charlestown?

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

Nearby cities in other states

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