TV channels & antenna towers in Bismarck, North Dakota

With roughly 71,200 residents, Bismarck is a city in North Dakota. Our map shows 9 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 5 full-power and 4 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 9 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 6 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 9 transmitters are within 25 miles, 0 between 25 and 45 miles, and 0 farther out. Bismarck is a broadcast hub in its own right: three of the 3 network stations in range are licensed here.

The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 17 (KBMY), Fox on channel 5.2 (KFYR-TV) and CW on channel 12.2 (KXMB-TV). No NBC affiliate is listed within 70 miles; the nearest one in our data is KVLY-TV in Fargo, ND, 169 miles to the east. No CBS affiliate is listed within 250 miles of Bismarck. 2 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 S, at about 184°. The main network towers for Bismarck sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Three network stations, KFYR-TV, KXMB-TV and KBMY, transmit from the same tower site about 14 miles south of Bismarck (185° S). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 3 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Bismarck at fair strength or better, all arrive from the south, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

The farthest main network tower for Bismarck is KBMY (ABC), 15 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

KXBK-LD is only 0.2 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 9 stations at fair strength or better, Bismarck ranks 6th of 80 places in North Dakota: more than the typical North Dakota town (3). Its nearest major network tower is 14 miles away, against a state median of 38 miles.

15% of North Dakota's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna.