TV channels & antenna towers in Skidway Lake, Michigan

Skidway Lake has 28 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW. About 9 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is W34FD-D, 34 miles to the S.

Open Skidway Lake in the live finder

28TV transmitters within 70 miles

5networks over the air

34 mito the closest tower

3,392population

Network channels in Skidway Lake

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
ABCWBKB-TVABC	11.3	44 mi	35° NE	Fair	Alpena, MI
CBSWNEM-TVCBS	5	50 mi	169° S	Good	Bay City, MI
ABCWPBN-TVABC	7.2	64 mi	308° NW	Fair	Traverse City, MI
ABCWGTUABC	29	64 mi	308° NW	Fair	Traverse City, MI
CWWFQX-TVCW	32.2	65 mi	268° W	Fair	Cadillac, MI
CBSWWTVCBS	9	65 mi	268° W	Fair	Cadillac, MI
ABCWJRT-TVABC	12	66 mi	181° S	Poor	Flint, MI
FOXWSMHFox	66	66 mi	182° S	Weak	Flint, MI
NBCWEYI-TVNBC	25	69 mi	167° SSE	Weak	Saginaw, MI
CWWBSFCW	46	69 mi	167° SSE	Weak	Bay City, MI

Over-the-air TV in Skidway Lake

With roughly 3,390 residents, Skidway Lake is a town in Michigan. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 28 licensed TV transmitters: 15 full-power and 13 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 9 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 1 at good or strong strength.

0 of them are within 25 miles of Skidway Lake, 6 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 22 are more than 45 miles out. Two of the 10 network stations in range are licensed to Bay City, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Bay City's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 7.2 (WPBN-TV), CBS on channel 5 (WNEM-TV), NBC on channel 25 (WEYI-TV), Fox on channel 66 (WSMH) and CW on channel 32.2 (WFQX-TV). 5 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 Skidway Lake

The main network towers around Skidway Lake are in different directions: ABC 308° NW (64 mi), CBS 169° S (50 mi), NBC 167° SSE (69 mi) and Fox 182° S (66 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Two network stations, WPBN-TV and WGTU, transmit from the same tower site about 64 miles northwest of Skidway Lake (308° NW). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 6 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Skidway Lake at fair strength or better, 33% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across three other directions.

WPBN-TV (ABC), WEYI-TV (NBC) and WSMH (Fox) lie beyond the radio horizon of their transmitter as seen from Skidway Lake. Past that point signals fade quickly, so antenna height matters more than amplification.

Antenna and amplifier advice for Skidway Lake

The farthest main network tower for Skidway Lake is WEYI-TV (NBC), 69 miles away with a weak estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. If you only watch the closer stations, a smaller antenna may do.

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 Skidway Lake

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

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
W34FD-DLow power	34 mi	175° S	Poor	Saginaw, MI
WKNX-LDLow power	38 mi	171° S	Poor	Bay City, MI
W31FF-DLow power	42 mi	222° SW	Poor	Saginaw, MI
W27ET-DLow power	42 mi	222° SW	Poor	Saginaw, MI
W19FG-DLow power	42 mi	222° SW	Poor	Midland, MI
WDCQ-TVFull power	48 mi	157° SSE	Fair	Bad Axe, MI
WFFC-LDLow power	55 mi	174° S	Poor	Midland, MI
W23EB-DLow power	63 mi	267° W	Poor	Cadillac, MI
WMNN-LDLow power	64 mi	274° W	Poor	Lake City, MI
W31FI-DLow power	64 mi	274° W	Poor	Traverse City, MI
W14FD-DLow power	64 mi	274° W	Poor	Traverse City, MI
WCMVFull power	64 mi	308° NW	Fair	Cadillac, MI
W15DF-DLow power	65 mi	268° W	Poor	Houghton Lake, MI
W19EZ-DLow power	65 mi	268° W	Poor	Houghton Lake, MI
WCMU-TVFull power	66 mi	243° WSW	Weak	Mount Pleasant, MI
WCMLFull power	66 mi	355° N	Fair	Alpena, MI
WAQPFull power	66 mi	181° S	Weak	Saginaw, MI
W35DQ-DLow power	70 mi	169° S	Poor	Midland, MI

How Skidway Lake compares with the rest of Michigan

With 9 stations at fair strength or better, Skidway Lake ranks 368th of 447 places in Michigan: fewer than the typical Michigan town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 44 miles away, against a state median of 20 miles.

19% of Michigan's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Midland, 41 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Skidway Lake: 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 167° SSE, the direction of WEYI-TV (NBC), 69 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 9 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 Skidway Lake, MI?

ABC is on channel 7.2 from WPBN-TV, broadcasting from 64 miles NW of Skidway Lake. Estimated signal: fair.

What channel is CBS in Skidway Lake, MI?

CBS is on channel 5 from WNEM-TV, broadcasting from 50 miles S of Skidway Lake. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Skidway Lake, MI?

NBC is on channel 25 from WEYI-TV, broadcasting from 69 miles SSE of Skidway Lake. Estimated signal: weak.

What channel is Fox in Skidway Lake, MI?

Fox is on channel 66 from WSMH, broadcasting from 66 miles S of Skidway Lake. Estimated signal: weak.

What channel is CW in Skidway Lake, MI?

CW is on channel 32.2 from WFQX-TV, broadcasting from 65 miles W of Skidway Lake. Estimated signal: fair.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Skidway Lake?

28 transmitters within 70 miles of Skidway Lake; around 9 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 Skidway Lake?

What kind of antenna do I need in Skidway Lake?

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 141° of the compass, so a multi-directional antenna or a rotator will help.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Skidway Lake?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Skidway Lake?

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 Michigan cities

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