TV channels & antenna towers in Waltham, Massachusetts

Waltham has 41 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 35 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WBTS-CD (NBC), 4.6 miles to the S.

Open Waltham in the live finder

41TV transmitters within 70 miles

9networks over the air

4.6 mito the closest tower

63,378population

Network channels in Waltham

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
NBCWBTS-CDNBC	15	4.6 mi	181° S	Good	Nashua, NH
CBSWBZ-TVCBS	4	4.6 mi	181° S	Strong	Boston, MA
TLMWNEUTelemundo	60	4.6 mi	181° S	Strong	Merrimack, NH
ABCWCVB-TVABC	5	4.6 mi	181° S	Strong	Boston, MA
CWWLVICW	56	4.6 mi	168° SSE	Strong	Cambridge, MA
FOXWFXTFox	25	5.2 mi	170° S	Strong	Boston, MA
IONWBPX-TVION	68	13 mi	272° W	Good	Boston, MA
UNIWUNIUnivision	66	13 mi	272° W	Strong	Marlborough, MA
TLMWYCN-LDTelemundo	8	27 mi	171° S	Fair	Providence, RI
CWWNAC-TVCW	64.2	35 mi	184° S	Fair	Providence, RI
CBSWPRI-TVCBS	12	35 mi	185° S	Fair	Providence, RI
MeTVWLNE-TVMeTV	6.5	35 mi	184° S	Good	New Bedford, MA
ABCWJARABC	10.2	35 mi	184° S	Good	Providence, RI
TLMWRIW-CDTelemundo	51	35 mi	184° S	Fair	Providence, RI
ABCWMUR-TVABC	9	46 mi	337° NNW	Weak	Manchester, NH
IONWPXG-TVION	21	56 mi	356° N	Fair	Concord, NH
IONWPXQ-TVION	69	67 mi	205° SSW	Weak	Newport, RI

Over-the-air TV in Waltham

Waltham, Massachusetts has a population of about 63,400. There are 41 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 27 full-power, 4 Class A, 9 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 35 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 22 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 23 transmitters are within 25 miles, 10 between 25 and 45 miles, and 8 farther out. Five of the 17 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 (strong signal). 13 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 Waltham

Point your antenna S, at about 178°. The main network towers for Waltham sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Six network stations, WBTS-CD, WBZ-TV, WNEU, WCVB-TV and WLVI and others, transmit from the same tower site about 4.6 miles south of Waltham (181° S). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 14 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Waltham at fair strength or better, 79% arrive from the south; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Waltham

The farthest main network tower for Waltham is WFXT (Fox), 5.2 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

WBZ-TV is only 4.6 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 Waltham

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WUTF-TVFull power	4.6 mi	181° S	Strong	Worcester, MA
WGBX-TVFull power	4.6 mi	181° S	Strong	Boston, MA
WSBK-TVFull power	4.6 mi	181° S	Strong	Boston, MA
WHDHFull power	4.6 mi	168° SSE	Strong	Boston, MA
W26EU-DTranslator	4.8 mi	173° S	Good	Boston, MA
WFXZ-CDClass A	5.2 mi	170° S	Good	Boston, MA
WGBH-TVFull power	5.2 mi	170° S	Good	Boston, MA
WVCC-LDLow power	5.2 mi	170° S	Good	Westmoreland, NH
WHDT-LDLow power	8.4 mi	103° ESE	Fair	Boston, MA
WCEA-LDLow power	8.4 mi	103° ESE	Good	Boston, MA
WWOO-LDLow power	9.0 mi	98° E	Good	Westmoreland, NH
WCRN-LDLow power	13 mi	133° SE	Fair	Boston, MA
WDPX-TVFull power	13 mi	272° W	Good	Woburn, MA
WWJE-DTFull power	13 mi	272° W	Strong	Derry, NH
WLEK-LDLow power	17 mi	50° NE	Fair	Concord, NH
WWDPFull power	27 mi	159° SSE	Fair	Norwell, MA
WMFPFull power	27 mi	159° SSE	Fair	Foxborough, MA
WMPX-LDLow power	28 mi	202° SSW	Fair	Dennis, MA
WSBE-TVFull power	35 mi	184° S	Fair	Providence, RI
WVMA-CDClass A	46 mi	218° SW	Poor	Providence, RI
WJCB-LDLow power	46 mi	311° NW	Poor	Windsor, VT
WENH-TVFull power	55 mi	1° N	Weak	Durham, NH
WYDNFull power	56 mi	356° N	Fair	Lowell, MA
WLWCFull power	67 mi	205° SSW	Weak	New Bedford, MA

How Waltham compares with the rest of Massachusetts

With 35 stations at fair strength or better, Waltham ranks 42nd of 390 places in Massachusetts: more than the typical Massachusetts town (29). Its nearest major network tower is 4.6 miles away, against a state median of 19 miles.

12% of Massachusetts's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Boston, 9.1 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Waltham: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 170° S, the direction of WFXT (Fox), 5.2 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 35 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 Waltham, MA?

ABC is on channel 5 from WCVB-TV, broadcasting from 4.6 miles S of Waltham. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CBS in Waltham, MA?

CBS is on channel 4 from WBZ-TV, broadcasting from 4.6 miles S of Waltham. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is NBC in Waltham, MA?

NBC is on channel 15 from WBTS-CD, broadcasting from 4.6 miles S of Waltham. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Waltham, MA?

Fox is on channel 25 from WFXT, broadcasting from 5.2 miles S of Waltham. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is CW in Waltham, MA?

CW is on channel 56 from WLVI, broadcasting from 4.6 miles SSE of Waltham. Estimated signal: strong.

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

41 transmitters within 70 miles of Waltham; around 35 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 Waltham?

Point your antenna S, at about 178°. The main network towers for Waltham sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Waltham?

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 Waltham?

WBZ-TV is only 4.6 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 Waltham?

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 Massachusetts cities

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