TV channels & antenna towers in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts has a population of about 667,000. There are 39 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 25 full-power, 4 Class A, 9 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 24 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 25 transmitters are within 25 miles, 8 between 25 and 45 miles, and 6 farther out. Five of the 16 network stations in range are licensed to Providence, RI, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Providence's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 5 (WCVB-TV), CBS on channel 4 (WBZ-TV), NBC on channel 15 (WBTS-CD), Fox on channel 25 (WFXT), CW on channel 56 (WLVI), ION on channel 68 (WBPX-TV), Telemundo on channel 60 (WNEU), Univision on channel 66 (WUNI) and MeTV on channel 6.5 (WLNE-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (strong signal) and Univision (good signal). 12 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 WSW, at about 249°. The main network towers for Boston sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Six network stations, WLVI, WFXT, WBTS-CD, WBZ-TV and WNEU and others, transmit from the same tower site about 8.6 miles west of Boston (248° WSW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 14 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Boston at fair strength or better, 50% arrive from the west; the rest are spread across three other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Boston is WBTS-CD (NBC), 9.6 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

WWOO-LD is only 0.1 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.

With 34 stations at fair strength or better, Boston ranks 65th of 390 places in Massachusetts: more than the typical Massachusetts town (29). Its nearest major network tower is 8.6 miles away, against a state median of 19 miles.

12% of Massachusetts's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna.