TV channels & antenna towers in Columbia, Pennsylvania

Columbia, Pennsylvania has a population of about 10,400. There are 57 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 32 full-power, 7 Class A, 14 low-power and 4 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 22 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 11 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 3 transmitters are within 25 miles, 14 between 25 and 45 miles, and 40 farther out. Five of the 20 network stations in range are licensed to Baltimore, MD, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Baltimore's stations.

The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 2 (WMAR-TV), CBS on channel 13 (WJZ-TV), NBC on channel 8 (WGAL), Fox on channel 45 (WBFF), CW on channel 21.3 (WHP-TV), ION on channel 61 (WPPX-TV), Telemundo on channel 62 (WWSI), Univision on channel 15 (WXBU) and MeTV on channel 69.3 (WFMZ-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (fair signal) and Univision (good signal). 12 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

The main network towers around Columbia are in different directions: ABC 189° S (49 mi), CBS 189° S (49 mi), NBC 271° W (6.0 mi) and Fox 189° S (49 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Three network stations, WXBU, WHP-TV and WPMT, transmit from the same tower site about 29 miles northwest of Columbia (318° NW). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 13 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Columbia at fair strength or better, 38% arrive from the south; the rest are spread across three other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Columbia is WJZ-TV (CBS), 49 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an outdoor directional antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

WGAL is only 6.0 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 22 stations at fair strength or better, Columbia ranks 549th of 1,015 places in Pennsylvania: fewer than the typical Pennsylvania town (24). Its nearest major network tower is 6.0 miles away, against a state median of 16 miles.

19% of Pennsylvania's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an outdoor directional antenna. The nearest larger city is Lancaster, 11 miles away.