TV channels & antenna towers in Lake City, Minnesota

Lake City is a town of about 5,030 people in Minnesota. There are 49 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 21 full-power, 2 Class A, 21 low-power and 5 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 21 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 12 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 0 transmitters are within 25 miles, 7 between 25 and 45 miles, and 42 farther out. Seven of the 18 network stations in range are licensed to Minneapolis, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Minneapolis's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 5 (KSTP-TV), CBS on channel 4 (WCCO-TV), NBC on channel 11 (KARE), Fox on channel 48 (WEUX), CW on channel 23 (WUCW), Telemundo on channel 25 (KJNK-LD), Univision on channel 21 (WUMN-LD) and MeTV on channel 5.3 (KSTC-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (very weak signal) and Univision (very weak signal). 6 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

The main network towers around Lake City are in different directions: ABC 315° NW (60 mi), CBS 315° NW (60 mi), NBC 315° NW (60 mi) and Fox 40° NE (46 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Six network stations, KMSP-TV, KSTP-TV, WUCW, WCCO-TV and KARE and others, transmit from the same tower site about 59 miles northwest of Lake City (315° NW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 14 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Lake City at fair strength or better, 43% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across four other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Lake City is KARE (NBC), 60 miles away with a good 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.

With 21 stations at fair strength or better, Lake City ranks 94th of 371 places in Minnesota: more than the typical Minnesota town (13). Its nearest major network tower is 46 miles away, against a state median of 24 miles.

33% of Minnesota's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Rochester, 31 miles away.