TV channels & antenna towers in Elmira, New York

Elmira, New York has a population of about 28,200. There are 34 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 15 full-power, 3 Class A, 9 low-power and 7 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 14 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 7 at good or strong strength.

11 of them are within 25 miles of Elmira, 10 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 13 are more than 45 miles out. Four of the 11 network stations in range are licensed to Binghamton, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Binghamton's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 36 (WENY-TV), CBS on channel 15 (WKOF), NBC on channel 20 (WBGH-CD), Fox on channel 48 (WYDC) and CW on channel 18.2 (WETM-TV). 5 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 WNW, at about 285°. The main network towers for Elmira sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Four network stations, WBNG-TV, WICZ-TV, WIVT and WBGH-CD, transmit from the same tower site about 44 miles east of Elmira (93° E). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 7 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Elmira at fair strength or better, 43% arrive from the west; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Elmira is WYDC (Fox), 14 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WKOF (CBS), 69 miles northeast and WBGH-CD (NBC), 44 miles east, are the exception: the nearest listed affiliates of those networks are 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 those.

WETM-TV is only 3.4 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 14 stations at fair strength or better, Elmira ranks 797th of 1,012 places in New York: fewer than the typical New York town (23). Its nearest major network tower is 3.4 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.

34% of New York's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna.