TV stations in North Dakota
North Dakota has 46 licensed over-the-air TV transmitters, including 16 network affiliates carrying ABC, NBC, Fox and CW. Pick a city below for its local channel lineup, tower distances and the direction to point your antenna.
Over-the-air TV in North Dakota at a glance
North Dakota has 46 licensed TV transmitters: 27 full-power, 0 Class A, 18 low-power and 1 translator stations. Translators make up 2% of the total, below the national share of 41%, a sign that most people live within reach of the main towers.
Most full-power and Class A stations are licensed to Bismarck (5), Minot (5), Fargo (4) and Dickinson (3). 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 Dakota is WDAY-TV (ABC) in Fargo, at 1,000 kW effective radiated power. The tallest is KVLY-TV near Fargo, 594 m (1,949 ft) above the surrounding terrain.
We ran a reception estimate for all 80 cities and towns in North Dakota. A typical place gets 3 stations at fair strength or better (national median: 17), and its nearest major network tower is about 38 miles away. 15% of places can use an indoor antenna, 30% need an amplified or attic antenna, 55% 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 75%, NBC 43% and Fox 87%.
Casselton has the most stations in reach (12). Lakota is the hardest place to get network TV over the air: its nearest major network tower is 69 miles away.
Largest cities in North Dakota
- Fargo
- Bismarck
- Grand Forks
- Minot
- West Fargo
- Williston
- Dickinson
- Mandan
- Jamestown
- Wahpeton
- Devils Lake
- Watford City
- Valley City
- Minot Air Force Base
- Grafton
- Lincoln
- Beulah
- Rugby
- Stanley
- Horace
- Casselton
- New Town
- Hazen
- Grand Forks Air Force Base
- Bottineau
- Lisbon
- Belcourt
- Carrington
- Mayville
- Oakes
- Langdon
- Harvey
- Bowman
- Tioga
- Hillsboro
- Garrison
- Crosby
- New Rockford
- Park River
- Surrey
Network affiliates in North Dakota
| Station | Channel | City of license | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC KBMY ABC | 17 | Bismarck | Full power |
| ABC KMCY ABC | 14 | Minot | Full power |
| ABC WDAY-TV ABC | 6 | Fargo | Full power |
| NBC KVLY-TV NBC | 11 | Fargo | Full power |
| FOX KFYR-TV Fox | 5.2 | Bismarck | Full power |
| FOX KJRR Fox | 7 | Jamestown | Full power |
| FOX KMOT Fox | 10.2 | Minot | Full power |
| FOX KNRR Fox | 12 | Pembina | Full power |
| FOX KQCD-TV Fox | 7.2 | Dickinson | Full power |
| FOX KUMV-TV Fox | 8.2 | Williston | Full power |
| FOX KVRR Fox | 15 | Fargo | Full power |
| CW KXMA-TV CW | 2 | Dickinson | Full power |
| CW KXMB-TV CW | 12.2 | Bismarck | Full power |
| CW KXMC-TV CW | 13.2 | Minot | Full power |
| CW KXMD-TV CW | 11.2 | Williston | Full power |
| CW KXJB-LD CW | 30.2 | Horace | 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.
- KBME-TVBismarck
- KDSEDickinson
- KFMEFargo
- KGFEGrand Forks
- KJREEllendale
- KMDEDevils Lake
- KNDBBismarck
- KNDMMinot
- KNGFGrand Forks
- KRDK-TVValley City
- KSREMinot
- KWSEWilliston
All cities and towns in North Dakota (80)
- Amidon
- Ashley
- Beach
- Belcourt
- Belfield
- Beulah
- Bismarck
- Bottineau
- Bowbells
- Bowman
- Burlington
- Cando
- Carrington
- Carson
- Casselton
- Cavalier
- Center
- Cooperstown
- Crosby
- Devils Lake
- Dickinson
- Ellendale
- Fargo
- Fessenden
- Finley
- Forman
- Fort Totten
- Fort Yates
- Garrison
- Grafton
- Grand Forks
- Grand Forks Air Force Base
- Harvey
- Hazen
- Hettinger
- Hillsboro
- Horace
- Jamestown
- Kenmare
- Killdeer
- Lakota
- Langdon
- Larimore
- Lincoln
- Linton
- Lisbon
- Mandan
- Manning
- Mayville
- McClusky
- Medora
- Minnewaukan
- Minot
- Minot Air Force Base
- Mohall
- Mott
- Napoleon
- New Rockford
- New Town
- Oakes
- Park River
- Parshall
- Rolla
- Rugby
- Sheldon
- Shell Valley
- Stanley
- Stanton
- Steele
- Surrey
- Thompson
- Tioga
- Towner
- Valley City
- Velva
- Wahpeton
- Washburn
- Watford City
- West Fargo
- Williston
Frequently asked questions
How many TV stations are in North Dakota?
North Dakota has 46 licensed TV transmitters: 27 full-power, 0 Class A, 18 low-power and 1 translator stations.
Which TV networks broadcast over the air in North Dakota?
ABC (3 stations), NBC (1 station), Fox (7 stations) and CW (5 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 Fargo?
See the Fargo channel guide for every tower within 70 miles, with channel numbers, distances and antenna directions.
Do I need an outdoor antenna in North Dakota?
In 55% of North Dakota's cities and towns, yes. 45% 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.