TV channels & antenna towers in North Bethesda, Maryland

North Bethesda has 46 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW. About 34 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WDDN-LD, 4.5 miles to the SE.

Open North Bethesda in the live finder

46TV transmitters within 70 miles

10networks over the air

4.5 mito the closest tower

43,828population

Network channels in North Bethesda

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
FOXWTTGFox	5	5.6 mi	172° S	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWPXW-TVION	66	5.6 mi	172° S	Strong	Manassas, VA
ABCWJLA-TVABC	7	6.8 mi	162° SSE	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWHUT-TVPBS	32	6.8 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Washington, DC
CBSWUSACBS	9	6.8 mi	162° SSE	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWETA-TVPBS	26	6.8 mi	162° SSE	Strong	Washington, DC
MeTVWDME-CDMeTV	48.1	7.5 mi	164° SSE	Good	Washington, DC
CWWDCWCW	50	7.5 mi	164° SSE	Strong	Washington, DC
NBCWRC-TVNBC	4	7.5 mi	164° SSE	Strong	Washington, DC
TLMWZDC-CDTelemundo	44	7.5 mi	164° SSE	Strong	Washington, DC
UNIWFDC-DTUnivision	14	7.5 mi	164° SSE	Strong	Arlington, VA
CBSWJZ-TVCBS	13	32 mi	51° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
ABCWMAR-TVABC	2	32 mi	51° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
NBCWBAL-TVNBC	11	32 mi	51° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
CWWNUVCW	54	32 mi	51° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
FOXWBFFFox	45	32 mi	51° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
IONWWPX-TVION	60	37 mi	291° WNW	Weak	Martinsburg, WV

Over-the-air TV in North Bethesda

With roughly 43,800 residents, North Bethesda is a town in Maryland. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 46 licensed TV transmitters: 25 full-power, 6 Class A, 14 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 34 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 26 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 23 transmitters are within 25 miles, 12 between 25 and 45 miles, and 11 farther out. Nine of the 17 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 strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 7 (WJLA-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). 10 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 North Bethesda

Point your antenna SSE, at about 165°. The main network towers for North Bethesda sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

11 network stations, WTTG, WPXW-TV, WJLA-TV, WHUT-TV and WUSA and others, transmit from the same tower site about 5.6 miles south of North Bethesda (172° S). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

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

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for North Bethesda

The farthest main network tower for North Bethesda is WRC-TV (NBC), 7.5 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

WTTG is only 5.6 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 North Bethesda

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 29; see all in the finder.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WDDN-LDLow power	4.5 mi	133° SE	Good	Washington, DC
WDCAFull power	5.6 mi	172° S	Strong	Washington, DC
WDWA-LDLow power	6.7 mi	24° NNE	Fair	Damascus, VA
WJALFull power	6.8 mi	162° SSE	Good	Silver Spring, MD
WDCO-CDClass A	7.5 mi	164° SSE	Good	Woodstock, VA
WIAV-CDClass A	7.5 mi	164° SSE	Good	Washington, DC
WMDO-CDClass A	7.5 mi	164° SSE	Good	Washington, DC
WRZB-LDLow power	7.5 mi	164° SSE	Good	Washington, DC
WWTD-LDLow power	7.5 mi	164° SSE	Good	Washington, DC
WDCN-LDLow power	13 mi	206° SSW	Fair	Fairfax, VA
WFPTFull power	18 mi	325° NW	Good	Frederick, MD
W10DE-DLow power	23 mi	99° E	Fair	Washington, DC
WMPTFull power	27 mi	95° E	Good	Annapolis, MD
WQAW-LDLow power	27 mi	95° E	Fair	Lake Shore, MD
WUTBFull power	32 mi	51° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
WMPBFull power	33 mi	33° NNE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
WMJF-CDClass A	37 mi	48° NE	Weak	Towson, MD
WLZH-LDLow power	44 mi	42° NE	Poor	Baltimore, MD
WDVM-TVFull power	49 mi	263° W	Good	Hagerstown, MD
W13DW-DLow power	55 mi	96° E	Poor	Annapolis, MD
WMDEFull power	55 mi	96° E	Poor	Dover, DE
WWDD-LDLow power	57 mi	55° NE	Poor	Baltimore, MD
W08EE-DTranslator	58 mi	300° WNW	Poor	Martinsburg, WV
WWPBFull power	62 mi	313° NW	Fair	Hagerstown, MD
W14DK-DLow power	63 mi	116° ESE	Poor	Dagsboro, DE

How North Bethesda compares with the rest of Maryland

With 34 stations at fair strength or better, North Bethesda ranks 22nd of 346 places in Maryland: more than the typical Maryland town (32). Its nearest major network tower is 5.6 miles away, against a state median of 16 miles.

22% of Maryland's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Washington, D.C., 11 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in North Bethesda: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 164° SSE, the direction of WRC-TV (NBC), 7.5 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 34 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 North Bethesda, MD?

ABC is on channel 7 from WJLA-TV, broadcasting from 6.8 miles SSE of North Bethesda. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in North Bethesda, MD?

CBS is on channel 9 from WUSA, broadcasting from 6.8 miles SSE of North Bethesda. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in North Bethesda, MD?

NBC is on channel 4 from WRC-TV, broadcasting from 7.5 miles SSE of North Bethesda. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in North Bethesda, MD?

Fox is on channel 5 from WTTG, broadcasting from 5.6 miles S of North Bethesda. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is PBS in North Bethesda, MD?

PBS is on channel 26 from WETA-TV, broadcasting from 6.8 miles SSE of North Bethesda. Estimated signal: strong.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in North Bethesda?

46 transmitters within 70 miles of North Bethesda; around 34 of them are likely to be receivable with indoor 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 North Bethesda?

Point your antenna SSE, at about 165°. The main network towers for North Bethesda sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in North Bethesda?

Indoor antenna (up to ~25 miles). The main towers are close. A flat indoor antenna near a window facing the towers should pull in the major networks.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in North Bethesda?

WTTG is only 5.6 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 North Bethesda?

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

Chevy Chase, DC6.2 mi

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