TV channels & antenna towers in Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City is a city of about 475,000 people in Missouri. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 31 licensed TV transmitters: 14 full-power, 3 Class A, 13 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 18 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 17 at good or strong strength.

18 of them are within 25 miles of Kansas City, 1 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 12 are more than 45 miles out. Kansas City is a broadcast hub in its own right: eight of the 14 network stations in range are licensed here.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 9 (KMBC-TV), CBS on channel 5 (KCTV), NBC on channel 41 (KSHB-TV), Fox on channel 4 (WDAF-TV), CW on channel 29 (KCWE), ION on channel 50 (KPXE-TV), Telemundo on channel 39 (KGKC-LD), Univision on channel 14 (KUKC-LD) and Trinity on channel 16 (KTAJ-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (good signal) and Univision (good signal). 5 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 Kansas City are in different directions: ABC 108° ESE (3.5 mi), CBS 186° S (2.0 mi), NBC 164° SSE (8.7 mi) and Fox 207° SSW (2.1 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Two network stations, KCTV and WDAF-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 2.0 miles south of Kansas City (186° S). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 7 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Kansas City at fair strength or better, 29% arrive from the south; the rest are spread across three other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Kansas City is KSHB-TV (NBC), 8.7 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.

KCTV is only 2.0 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 18 stations at fair strength or better, Kansas City ranks 90th of 398 places in Missouri: more than the typical Missouri town (12). Its nearest major network tower is 2.0 miles away, against a state median of 23 miles.

36% of Missouri's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna.