TV channels & antenna towers in Rochester, New York

Rochester, New York has a population of about 210,000. Our map shows 28 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 15 full-power, 4 Class A and 9 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 14 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 12 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 9 transmitters are within 25 miles, 1 between 25 and 45 miles, and 18 farther out. Five of the 11 network stations in range are licensed to Buffalo, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Buffalo's stations.

The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 7 (WKBW-TV), CBS on channel 8 (WROC-TV), NBC on channel 10 (WHEC-TV), Fox on channel 31 (WUHF), CW on channel 13.2 (WHAM-TV), ION on channel 51 (WPXJ-TV) and MeTV on channel 67.3 (WBBZ-TV). 4 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 SE, at about 130°. The main network towers for Rochester sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Four network stations, WUHF, WHEC-TV, WROC-TV and WHAM-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 2.1 miles southeast of Rochester (132° SE). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 9 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Rochester at fair strength or better, 56% 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 Rochester, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.

The farthest main network tower for Rochester is WHEC-TV (NBC), 2.1 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.

WKBW-TV (ABC), 62 miles southwest, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is 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 that one.

WBGT-CD 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 14 stations at fair strength or better, Rochester ranks 797th of 1,012 places in New York: fewer than the typical New York town (23). Its nearest major network tower is 2.1 miles away, against a state median of 22 miles.

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