TV channels & antenna towers in Portage, Michigan

Portage, Michigan has a population of about 48,200. There are 35 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 18 full-power, 6 Class A and 11 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 17 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 10 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 5 transmitters are within 25 miles, 9 between 25 and 45 miles, and 21 farther out. Six of the 14 network stations in range are licensed to South Bend, IN, so most of the network channels you will find here come from South Bend's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 57 (WBND-LD), CBS on channel 3 (WWMT), NBC on channel 16 (WNDU-TV), Fox on channel 17 (WXMI), CW on channel 41.2 (WOTV), ION on channel 43 (WZPX-TV), Telemundo on channel 69.2 (WMYS-LD), Univision on channel 46 (WHME-TV) and MeTV on channel 64.2 (WLLA). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (very weak signal) and Univision (good signal). 7 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 N, at about 4°. The main network towers for Portage sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Three network stations, WLLA, WOTV and WZPX-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 26 miles north of Portage (14° NNE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 10 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Portage at fair strength or better, 60% arrive from the north; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Portage is WXMI (Fox), 34 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here.

WNDU-TV (NBC), 52 miles southwest, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for that one.

An amplifier only helps here if you run a long cable (over about 50 feet) or split the antenna to several TVs. Otherwise better placement does more. See the amplifier guide.

With 17 stations at fair strength or better, Portage ranks 181st of 447 places in Michigan: more than the typical Michigan town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 26 miles away, against a state median of 20 miles.

56% of Michigan's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is South Bend, 50 miles away.