TV stations in North Carolina
North Carolina has 161 licensed over-the-air TV transmitters, including 31 network affiliates carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. Pick a city below for its local channel lineup, tower distances and the direction to point your antenna.
Over-the-air TV in North Carolina at a glance
North Carolina has 161 licensed TV transmitters: 48 full-power, 10 Class A, 46 low-power and 57 translator stations. Translators make up 35% of the total, close to the national share of 41%.
Most full-power and Class A stations are licensed to Charlotte (7), Raleigh (5), Wilmington (4) and Greenville (4). Those cities are where the main broadcast hubs sit, and most viewers aim their antennas toward one of them.
The most powerful full-power transmitter in North Carolina is WSOC-TV (ABC) in Charlotte, at 1,000 kW effective radiated power. The tallest is WLOS near Asheville, 849 m (2,787 ft) above the surrounding terrain.
We ran a reception estimate for all 465 cities and towns in North Carolina. A typical place gets 19 stations at fair strength or better (national median: 17), and its nearest major network tower is about 23 miles away. 19% of places can use an indoor antenna, 57% need an amplified or attic antenna, 24% an outdoor directional antenna and 0% a long-range setup.
Weighted by population, the share of residents with a listed affiliate at fair strength or better is: ABC 97%, CBS 91%, NBC 99% and Fox 96%.
Black Mountain has the most stations in reach (29). Kill Devil Hills is the hardest place to get network TV over the air: its nearest major network tower is 70 miles away.
Largest cities in North Carolina
- Charlotte
- Raleigh
- West Raleigh
- Greensboro
- Durham
- Winston-Salem
- Fayetteville
- Cary
- Wilmington
- High Point
- Greenville
- Asheville
- Concord
- Gastonia
- Jacksonville
- Chapel Hill
- Rocky Mount
- Huntersville
- Burlington
- Wilson
- Kannapolis
- Apex
- Hickory
- Wake Forest
- Indian Trail
- Mooresville
- Goldsboro
- Monroe
- Salisbury
- Holly Springs
- Matthews
- New Bern
- Fort Bragg
- Sanford
- Cornelius
- Garner
- Thomasville
- Statesville
- Asheboro
- Mint Hill
Network affiliates in North Carolina
| Station | Channel | City of license | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC WCTI-TV ABC | 12 | New Bern | Full power |
| ABC WLOS ABC | 13 | Asheville | Full power |
| ABC WSOC-TV ABC | 9 | Charlotte | Full power |
| ABC WTVD ABC | 11 | Durham | Full power |
| ABC WXLV-TV ABC | 45 | Winston-Salem | Full power |
| CBS WBTV CBS | 3 | Charlotte | Full power |
| CBS WFMY-TV CBS | 2 | Greensboro | Full power |
| CBS WNCN CBS | 17 | Goldsboro | Full power |
| NBC WCNC-TV NBC | 36 | Charlotte | Full power |
| NBC WECT NBC | 6 | Wilmington | Full power |
| NBC WITN-TV NBC | 7 | Washington | Full power |
| NBC WRAL-TV NBC | 5 | Raleigh | Full power |
| NBC WXII-TV NBC | 12 | Winston-Salem | Full power |
| FOX WGHP Fox | 8 | High Point | Full power |
| FOX WJZY Fox | 46 | Belmont | Full power |
| FOX WRAZ Fox | 50 | Raleigh | Full power |
| FOX WSFX-TV Fox | 26 | Wilmington | Full power |
| CW WCWG CW | 20 | Lexington | Full power |
| CW WLFL CW | 22 | Raleigh | Full power |
| CW WNCT-TV CW | 9.2 | Greenville | Full power |
| CW WWAY CW | 3.3 | Wilmington | Full power |
| CW WYCW CW | 62 | Asheville | Full power |
| ION WEPX-TV ION | 38 | Greenville | Full power |
| ION WGPX-TV ION | 16 | Burlington | Full power |
| ION WPXU-TV ION | 35 | Jacksonville | Full power |
| ION WRPX-TV ION | 47 | Rocky Mount | Full power |
| UNI WUVC-DT Univision | 40 | Fayetteville | Full power |
| MeTV WCCB MeTV | 18.3 | Charlotte | Full power |
| TLM WRTD-CD Telemundo | 54 | Raleigh | Class A |
| TLM WTWL-LD Telemundo | 31 | Wilmington | Low power |
| MeTV WILM-LD MeTV | 10.2 | Wilmington | Low power |
Other full-power and Class A stations
Stations without a network tag in our data: often public television, religious, shopping, foreign-language or independent stations.
- WAXN-TVKannapolis
- WFPX-TVArcher Lodge
- WLXIGreensboro
- WMYVGreensboro
- WRAY-TVWake Forest
- WRDCDurham
- WSKY-TVManteo
- WTVICharlotte
- WUNC-TVChapel Hill
- WUND-TVEdenton
- WUNE-TVLinville
- WUNF-TVAsheville
- WUNG-TVConcord
- WUNJ-TVWilmington
- WUNK-TVGreenville
- WUNL-TVWinston-Salem
- WUNM-TVJacksonville
- WUNP-TVRoanoke Rapids
- WUNULumberton
- WYDOGreenville
- W15EB-DCharlotte
- WBFT-CDSanford
- WGTB-CDCharlotte
- WHFL-CDGoldsboro
- WHIG-CDRocky Mount
- WNGT-CDRaleigh
- WTNG-CDRockfish
- WUBX-CDDurham, Etc.
- WYBE-CDPinehurst
All cities and towns in North Carolina (465)
- Aberdeen
- Advance
- Ahoskie
- Albemarle
- Andrews
- Angier
- Apex
- Archdale
- Archer Lodge
- Asheboro
- Asheville
- Atlantic Beach
- Avery Creek
- Ayden
- Badin
- Bakersville
- Balfour
- Banner Elk
- Barker Heights
- Bayboro
- Bayshore
- Beaufort
- Belhaven
- Belmont
- Belville
- Benson
- Bent Creek
- Bermuda Run
- Bessemer City
- Bethel
- Bethlehem
- Beulaville
- Biltmore Forest
- Biscoe
- Black Mountain
- Bladenboro
- Blowing Rock
- Boiling Spring Lakes
- Boiling Springs
- Bolivia
- Boone
- Boonville
- Brevard
- Brices Creek
- Broad Creek
- Broadway
- Brogden
- Brunswick
- Bryson City
- Buies Creek
- Burgaw
- Burlington
- Burnsville
- Burnsville
- Butner
- Buxton
- Cajahs Mountain
- Calabash
- Camden
- Canton
- Cape Carteret
- Carolina Beach
- Carolina Shores
- Carrboro
- Carthage
- Cary
- Castle Hayne
- Cedar Point
- Chadbourn
- Chapel Hill
- Charlotte
- Cherokee
- Cherryville
- China Grove
- Claremont
- Clayton
- Clemmons
- Clinton
- Clyde
- Coats
- Columbia
- Columbus
- Concord
- Connelly Springs
- Conover
- Cordova
- Cornelius
- Cove Creek
- Cramerton
- Creedmoor
- Cricket
- Cullowhee
- Currituck
- Dallas
- Dana
- Danbury
- Davidson
- Denton
- Denver
- Dobson
- Drexel
- Dunn
- Durham
- East Flat Rock
- East Rockingham
- East Spencer
- Eastover
- Eden
- Edenton
- Edneyville
- Elizabeth City
- Elizabethtown
- Elkin
- Ellerbe
- Elm City
- Elon
- Elroy
- Emerald Isle
- Enfield
- Enochville
- Erwin
- Etowah
- Fairfield Harbour
- Fairmont
- Fairplains
- Fairview
- Fairview
- Farmville
- Farmville
- Fayetteville
- Fearrington Village
- Flat Rock
- Flat Rock
- Fletcher
- Forest City
- Forest Oaks
- Fort Bragg
- Foscoe
- Four Oaks
- Franklin
- Franklin
- Franklinton
- Franklinville
- Fremont
- Fruitland
- Fuquay-Varina
- Gamewell
- Garner
- Gaston
- Gastonia
- Gatesville
- Gibsonville
- Glen Alpine
- Glen Raven
- Goldsboro
- Gorman
- Graham
- Granite Falls
- Granite Quarry
- Green Level
- Green Level
- Greensboro
- Greenville
- Grifton
- Half Moon
- Halifax
- Hamlet
- Hampstead
- Harkers Island
- Harrisburg
- Havelock
- Haw River
- Hayesville
- Hays
- Hazelwood
- Hemby Bridge
- Henderson
- Hendersonville
- Hertford
- Hickory
- High Point
- Hildebran
- Hillsborough
- Holly Ridge
- Holly Springs
- Hoopers Creek
- Hope Mills
- Horse Shoe
- Hudson
- Huntersville
- Icard
- Indian Trail
- Jackson
- Jacksonville
- James City
- Jamestown
- Jefferson
- Jonesville
- Kannapolis
- Kenansville
- Kenly
- Kernersville
- Kill Devil Hills
- King
- Kings Grant
- Kings Mountain
- Kinston
- Kitty Hawk
- Knightdale
- Kure Beach
- La Grange
- Lake Junaluska
- Lake Lure
- Lake Norman of Catawba
- Lake Park
- Lake Waccamaw
- Landis
- Laurel Hill
- Laurel Park
- Laurinburg
- Leland
- Lenoir
- Lewisville
- Lexington
- Liberty
- Lillington
- Lincolnton
- Locust
- Long Beach
- Longview
- Louisburg
- Lowell
- Lowesville
- Lucama
- Lumberton
- Madison
- Maggie Valley
- Maiden
- Manteo
- Mar-Mac
- Marion
- Mars Hill
- Marshall
- Marshville
- Marvin
- Masonboro
- Matthews
- Maury
- Maxton
- Mayodan
- Maysville
- McLeansville
- Mebane
- Midland
- Midway
- Millers Creek
- Mills River
- Mineral Springs
- Mint Hill
- Mocksville
- Monroe
- Mooresville
- Moravian Falls
- Morehead City
- Morganton
- Morrisville
- Mount Airy
- Mount Gilead
- Mount Holly
- Mount Olive
- Mount Pleasant
- Mountain Home
- Mountain View
- Moyock
- Mulberry
- Murfreesboro
- Murphy
- Murraysville
- Myrtle Grove
- Nags Head
- Nashville
- Navassa
- Neuse Forest
- New Bern
- Newland
- Newport
- Newton
- Norlina
- North Wilkesboro
- Northchase
- Northlakes
- Norwood
- Oak Island
- Oak Ridge
- Oakboro
- Ogden
- Oxford
- Pembroke
- Pilot Mountain
- Pine Knoll Shores
- Pine Level
- Pinebluff
- Pinehurst
- Pinetops
- Pineville
- Piney Green
- Pittsboro
- Plain View
- Pleasant Garden
- Pleasant Hill
- Plymouth
- Polkton
- Princeton
- Princeville
- Pumpkin Center
- Pumpkin Center
- Raeford
- Raleigh
- Ramseur
- Randleman
- Ranlo
- Red Oak
- Red Springs
- Reidsville
- Rhodhiss
- Richlands
- River Bend
- River Road
- Roanoke Rapids
- Robbins
- Robbinsville
- Robersonville
- Rockfish
- Rockingham
- Rockwell
- Rocky Mount
- Rocky Point
- Rolesville
- Rose Hill
- Roseboro
- Rowland
- Roxboro
- Royal Pines
- Rural Hall
- Rutherford College
- Rutherfordton
- Saint James
- Saint Pauls
- Saint Stephens
- Salem
- Salisbury
- Sanford
- Sawmills
- Saxapahaw
- Scotland Neck
- Scotts Mill
- Sea Breeze
- Seagate
- Selma
- Seven Lakes
- Shallotte
- Sharpsburg
- Shelby
- Sherrills Ford
- Siler City
- Silver Lake
- Skippers Corner
- Smithfield
- Sneads Ferry
- Snow Hill
- South Gastonia
- South Henderson
- South Rosemary
- Southern Pines
- Southern Shores
- Southmont
- Southport
- Sparta
- Spencer
- Spindale
- Spring Hope
- Spring Lake
- Spruce Pine
- Stallings
- Stanfield
- Stanley
- Statesville
- Stedman
- Stokesdale
- Stoneville
- Stony Point
- Summerfield
- Sunset Beach
- Surf City
- Swannanoa
- Swanquarter
- Swansboro
- Swepsonville
- Sylva
- Tabor City
- Tarboro
- Taylorsville
- Thomasville
- Thurmond
- Toast
- Tobaccoville
- Trent Woods
- Trenton
- Trinity
- Troutman
- Troy
- Tryon
- Tryon
- Tyro
- Unionville
- Valdese
- Valley Hill
- Vander
- Wadesboro
- Wake Forest
- Walkertown
- Walkertown
- Wallace
- Wallburg
- Walnut Cove
- Wanchese
- Warrenton
- Warsaw
- Washington
- Waxhaw
- Waynesville
- Weaverville
- Weddington
- Welcome
- Weldon
- Wendell
- Wentworth
- Wesley Chapel
- West Canton
- West Jefferson
- West Marion
- West Raleigh
- Westport
- Whispering Pines
- White Plains
- White Plains
- Whiteville
- Wilkesboro
- Williamston
- Wilmington
- Wilson
- Wilsons Mills
- Windsor
- Windsor
- Wingate
- Winston-Salem
- Winterville
- Winton
- Woodfin
- Wrightsboro
- Wrightsville Beach
- Yadkinville
- Yanceyville
- Youngsville
- Zebulon
Frequently asked questions
How many TV stations are in North Carolina?
North Carolina has 161 licensed TV transmitters: 48 full-power, 10 Class A, 46 low-power and 57 translator stations.
Which TV networks broadcast over the air in North Carolina?
ABC (5 stations), CBS (3 stations), NBC (5 stations), Fox (4 stations), CW (5 stations), ION (4 stations), Telemundo (2 stations), Univision (1 station) and MeTV (2 stations). Some public, religious and independent stations are not tagged with a network in our data.
What channels can I get with an antenna in Charlotte?
See the Charlotte channel guide for every tower within 70 miles, with channel numbers, distances and antenna directions.
Do I need an outdoor antenna in North Carolina?
In 24% of North Carolina's cities and towns, yes. 76% can manage with an indoor or attic antenna. It depends on how far you are from the towers: each city page below gives a recommendation for that location.