TV channels & antenna towers in Riverdale, New York

Riverdale has 59 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 39 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WEPT-CD, 4.2 miles to the NNW.

59TV transmitters within 70 miles
9networks over the air
4.2 mito the closest tower
9,174population

Network channels in Riverdale

StationChannelDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
IONWPXU-LDION35 11 mi197° SSW FairAmityville, NY
MeTVWJLPMeTV33.1 11 mi203° SSW GoodMiddletown Township, NJ
ABCWABC-TVABC7 11 mi202° SSW GoodNew York, NY
CWWPIXCW11 11 mi202° SSW GoodNew York, NY
UNIWXTV-DTUnivision41 11 mi202° SSW StrongPaterson, NJ
CBSWCBS-TVCBS2 14 mi203° SSW StrongNew York, NY
FOXWNYWFox5 14 mi203° SSW GoodNew York, NY
NBCWNBCNBC4 14 mi203° SSW StrongNew York, NY
TLMWNJUTelemundo47 14 mi203° SSW StrongLinden, NJ
IONWPXN-TVION31 14 mi203° SSW GoodNew York, NY
ABCWTNHABC8 61 mi54° NE WeakNew Haven, CT

Over-the-air TV in Riverdale

Riverdale is a town of about 9,170 people in New York. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 59 licensed TV transmitters: 23 full-power, 5 Class A, 26 low-power and 5 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 39 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 22 at good or strong strength.

41 of them are within 25 miles of Riverdale, 4 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 14 are more than 45 miles out. Six of the 11 network stations in range are licensed to New York, so most of the network channels you will find here come from New York's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 7 (WABC-TV), CBS on channel 2 (WCBS-TV), NBC on channel 4 (WNBC), Fox on channel 5 (WNYW), CW on channel 11 (WPIX), ION on channel 31 (WPXN-TV), Telemundo on channel 47 (WNJU), Univision on channel 41 (WXTV-DT) and MeTV on channel 33.1 (WJLP). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (strong signal) and Univision (strong signal). 13 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 Riverdale

Point your antenna SSW, at about 203°. The main network towers for Riverdale sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Five network stations, WCBS-TV, WNYW, WNBC, WNJU and WPXN-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 14 miles southwest of Riverdale (203° SSW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 9 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Riverdale at fair strength or better, 67% arrive from the southwest; the rest are spread across one other direction.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Riverdale

The farthest main network tower for Riverdale is WNYW (Fox), 14 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

WNYE-TV is only 11 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.

Other stations near Riverdale

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 48; see all in the finder.

StationDistancePoint antennaEst. signalLicensed to
WEPT-CDClass A4.2 mi 349° NNWGoodPeekskill, NY
W09CZ-DLow power9.6 mi 197° SSWFairRoslyn, NY
WNYK-LDLow power11 mi 197° SSWFairTeaneck, NJ
WNMF-LDLow power11 mi 197° SSWFairNew York, NY
WHTV-LDLow power11 mi 197° SSWGoodNew York, NY
WNYD-LDLow power11 mi 197° SSWFairNew York, NY
W02CY-DLow power11 mi 197° SSWWeakNew York, NY
WNYZ-LDLow power11 mi 190° SFairNew York, NY
WNYE-TVFull power11 mi 203° SSWStrongNew York, NY
WXNY-LDLow power11 mi 202° SSWFairNew York, NY
WDYJ-LDLow power11 mi 202° SSWGoodNew York, NY
WFUT-DTFull power11 mi 202° SSWStrongNewark, NJ
WTBY-TVFull power11 mi 202° SSWGoodJersey City, NJ
WDYA-LDLow power11 mi 202° SSWGoodNew York, NY
WDVB-CDClass A11 mi 202° SSWGoodEdison, NJ
WMBQ-CDClass A14 mi 203° SSWPoorNew York, NY
WNETFull power14 mi 203° SSWFairNewark, NJ
WNWT-LDLow power14 mi 203° SSWGoodNew York, NY
WLIWFull power14 mi 203° SSWGoodGarden City, NY
WMBC-TVFull power14 mi 203° SSWGoodNewton, NJ
WKOB-LDLow power14 mi 203° SSWFairNew York, NY
WNDT-CDClass A14 mi 203° SSWFairManhattan, NY
WRNN-TVFull power14 mi 203° SSWGoodNew Rochelle, NY
WWOR-TVFull power14 mi 203° SSWGoodSecaucus, NJ
WASA-LDLow power14 mi 203° SSWFairPort Jervis, NY

How Riverdale compares with the rest of New York

With 39 stations at fair strength or better, Riverdale ranks 164th of 1,012 places in New York: more than the typical New York town (23). Its nearest major network tower is 11 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.

34% of New York's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is Kings Bridge, 1.5 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Riverdale: step by step

  1. Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
  2. Point it toward 203° SSW, the direction of WNYW (Fox), 14 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
  3. Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
  4. Expect around 39 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
  5. Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Riverdale, NY?

ABC is on channel 7 from WABC-TV, broadcasting from 11 miles SSW of Riverdale. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Riverdale, NY?

CBS is on channel 2 from WCBS-TV, broadcasting from 14 miles SSW of Riverdale. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is NBC in Riverdale, NY?

NBC is on channel 4 from WNBC, broadcasting from 14 miles SSW of Riverdale. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Riverdale, NY?

Fox is on channel 5 from WNYW, broadcasting from 14 miles SSW of Riverdale. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Riverdale, NY?

CW is on channel 11 from WPIX, broadcasting from 11 miles SSW of Riverdale. Estimated signal: good.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Riverdale?

59 transmitters within 70 miles of Riverdale; around 39 of them are likely to be receivable with indoor 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 Riverdale?

Point your antenna SSW, at about 203°. The main network towers for Riverdale sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Riverdale?

Indoor antenna (up to ~25 miles). The main towers are close. A flat indoor antenna near a window facing the towers should pull in the major networks.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Riverdale?

WNYE-TV is only 11 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.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Riverdale?

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 New York cities

Nearby cities in other states

More: all TV stations in New York · Northeast region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Riverdale; signal estimates ignore terrain.