TV channels & antenna towers in Durham, North Carolina

Durham has 38 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 27 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WUBX-CD, 4.8 miles to the ESE.

Open Durham in the live finder

38TV transmitters within 70 miles

8networks over the air

4.8 mito the closest tower

257,636population

Network channels in Durham

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
NBCWRAL-TVNBC	5	30 mi	137° SE	Good	Raleigh, NC
TLMWRTD-CDTelemundo	54	30 mi	137° SE	Good	Raleigh, NC
CBSWNCNCBS	17	30 mi	137° SE	Fair	Goldsboro, NC
FOXWRAZFox	50	30 mi	137° SE	Good	Raleigh, NC
CWWLFLCW	22	30 mi	137° SE	Good	Raleigh, NC
ABCWTVDABC	11	30 mi	138° SE	Fair	Durham, NC
UNIWUVC-DTUnivision	40	34 mi	188° S	Good	Fayetteville, NC
IONWRPX-TVION	47	44 mi	105° ESE	Fair	Rocky Mount, NC
ABCWXLV-TVABC	45	52 mi	261° W	Good	Winston-Salem, NC
IONWGPX-TVION	16	53 mi	261° W	Fair	Burlington, NC
CBSWFMY-TVCBS	2	53 mi	261° W	Good	Greensboro, NC
FOXWGHPFox	8	54 mi	257° WSW	Good	High Point, NC

Over-the-air TV in Durham

With roughly 258,000 residents, Durham is a city in North Carolina. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 38 licensed TV transmitters: 17 full-power, 7 Class A and 14 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 27 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 14 at good or strong strength.

10 of them are within 25 miles of Durham, 12 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 16 are more than 45 miles out. Four of the 12 network stations in range are licensed to Raleigh, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Raleigh's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 45 (WXLV-TV), CBS on channel 2 (WFMY-TV), NBC on channel 5 (WRAL-TV), Fox on channel 50 (WRAZ), CW on channel 22 (WLFL), ION on channel 47 (WRPX-TV), Telemundo on channel 54 (WRTD-CD) and Univision on channel 40 (WUVC-DT). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (good signal) and Univision (good signal). 6 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 Durham

Point your antenna SE, at about 137°. The main network towers for Durham sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Six network stations, WRAL-TV, WRTD-CD, WNCN, WRAZ and WLFL and others, transmit from the same tower site about 30 miles southeast of Durham (137° SE). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 12 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Durham at fair strength or better, 50% arrive from the southeast; the rest are spread across three other directions.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Durham

The farthest main network tower for Durham is WRAZ (Fox), 30 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here.

WXLV-TV (ABC), 52 miles west and WFMY-TV (CBS), 53 miles west, 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.

An amplifier only helps here if you run a long cable (over about 50 feet) or split the antenna to several TVs. Otherwise better placement does more. See the amplifier guide.

Other stations near Durham

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 26; see all in the finder.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WUBX-CDClass A	4.8 mi	104° ESE	Good	Durham, Etc., NC
WTNC-LDLow power	5.4 mi	326° NW	Good	Durham, NC
WIRP-LDLow power	17 mi	240° WSW	Fair	Raleigh, NC
WRAY-TVFull power	17 mi	240° WSW	Strong	Wake Forest, NC
WUNC-TVFull power	17 mi	240° WSW	Strong	Chapel Hill, NC
W36FG-DLow power	17 mi	240° WSW	Fair	Charlotte, NC
WDRH-LDLow power	19 mi	139° SE	Fair	Raleigh, NC
WWIW-LDLow power	19 mi	139° SE	Fair	Raleigh, NC
W33EI-DLow power	20 mi	167° SSE	Fair	Raleigh, NC
WAUG-LDLow power	21 mi	132° SE	Fair	Raleigh, NC
WNGT-CDClass A	30 mi	137° SE	Fair	Raleigh, NC
WRDCFull power	30 mi	137° SE	Good	Durham, NC
WBFT-CDClass A	39 mi	201° SSW	Weak	Sanford, NC
WFPX-TVFull power	44 mi	105° ESE	Fair	Archer Lodge, NC
WACN-LDLow power	46 mi	293° WNW	Poor	Raleigh, NC
WARZ-LDLow power	46 mi	134° SE	Poor	Smithfield, NC
WGSR-LDLow power	50 mi	301° WNW	Poor	Reidsville, NC
WMYVFull power	52 mi	261° W	Good	Greensboro, NC
WMDV-LDLow power	58 mi	333° NNW	Poor	Danville, VA
WUNP-TVFull power	63 mi	71° ENE	Fair	Roanoke Rapids, NC
WNCR-LDLow power	63 mi	95° E	Poor	Tarboro, NC
WDRN-LDLow power	63 mi	180° S	Poor	Fayetteville, NC
WHIG-CDClass A	63 mi	95° E	Poor	Rocky Mount, NC
WYBE-CDClass A	64 mi	207° SSW	Poor	Pinehurst, NC
WHFL-CDClass A	65 mi	132° SE	Poor	Goldsboro, NC

How Durham compares with the rest of North Carolina

With 27 stations at fair strength or better, Durham ranks 6th of 465 places in North Carolina: more than the typical North Carolina town (19). Its nearest major network tower is 30 miles away, against a state median of 23 miles.

57% of North Carolina's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna.

Setting up an antenna in Durham: step by step

Mount the antenna in the attic or high on the wall facing the towers, keeping the cable to the TV as short as you can.
Point it toward 137° SE, the direction of WRAZ (Fox), 30 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
Expect around 27 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Durham, NC?

ABC is on channel 45 from WXLV-TV, broadcasting from 52 miles W of Durham. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Durham, NC?

CBS is on channel 2 from WFMY-TV, broadcasting from 53 miles W of Durham. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Durham, NC?

NBC is on channel 5 from WRAL-TV, broadcasting from 30 miles SE of Durham. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is Fox in Durham, NC?

Fox is on channel 50 from WRAZ, broadcasting from 30 miles SE of Durham. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CW in Durham, NC?

CW is on channel 22 from WLFL, broadcasting from 30 miles SE of Durham. Estimated signal: good.

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

38 transmitters within 70 miles of Durham; around 27 of them are likely to be receivable with amplified indoor or attic 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 Durham?

Point your antenna SE, at about 137°. The main network towers for Durham sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Durham?

Amplified indoor or attic antenna (25–45 miles). Towers are at medium range. An amplified indoor antenna can work; an attic-mounted antenna is the safer choice. Picking up ABC and CBS from up to 53 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Durham?

Is there an app to find TV towers in Durham?

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 North Carolina cities

More: all TV stations in North Carolina · South region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Durham; signal estimates ignore terrain.