TV stations in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has 8 licensed over-the-air TV transmitters, including 6 network affiliates carrying ABC, CBS, CW, ION and Telemundo. Pick a city below for its local channel lineup, tower distances and the direction to point your antenna.
Over-the-air TV in Rhode Island at a glance
Rhode Island has 8 licensed TV transmitters: 5 full-power, 2 Class A, 1 low-power and 0 translator stations. Translators make up 0% 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 Providence (6) and Newport (1). 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 Rhode Island is WJAR (ABC) in Providence, at 1,000 kW effective radiated power. The tallest is WPRI-TV near Providence, 311 m (1,019 ft) above the surrounding terrain.
We ran a reception estimate for all 49 cities and towns in Rhode Island. A typical place gets 29 stations at fair strength or better (national median: 17), and its nearest major network tower is about 14 miles away. 0% of places can use an indoor antenna, 55% need an amplified or attic antenna, 45% 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 100%, CBS 100%, NBC 89% and Fox 100%.
Smithfield has the most stations in reach (38). New Shoreham is the hardest place to get network TV over the air: its nearest major network tower is 25 miles away.
Largest cities in Rhode Island
- Providence
- Warwick
- Cranston
- Pawtucket
- East Providence
- Woonsocket
- Coventry
- Cumberland
- North Providence
- South Kingstown
- West Warwick
- Johnston
- North Kingstown
- Newport
- Bristol
- Smithfield
- Lincoln
- Central Falls
- Westerly
- Portsmouth
- Middletown
- Barrington
- Narragansett
- East Greenwich
- Newport East
- Valley Falls
- Warren
- North Smithfield
- North Scituate
- Greenville
- Wakefield-Peacedale
- Charlestown
- Hopkinton
- Cumberland Hill
- Tiverton
- Kingston
- Exeter
- West Greenwich
- Jamestown
- Foster
Network affiliates in Rhode Island
| Station | Channel | City of license | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC WJAR ABC | 10.2 | Providence | Full power |
| CBS WPRI-TV CBS | 12 | Providence | Full power |
| CW WNAC-TV CW | 64.2 | Providence | Full power |
| ION WPXQ-TV ION | 69 | Newport | Full power |
| TLM WRIW-CD Telemundo | 51 | Providence | Class A |
| TLM WYCN-LD Telemundo | 8 | Providence | 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.
All cities and towns in Rhode Island (49)
- Ashaway
- Barrington
- Bradford
- Bristol
- Central Falls
- Charlestown
- Chepachet
- Coventry
- Cranston
- Cumberland
- Cumberland Hill
- East Greenwich
- East Providence
- Exeter
- Foster
- Greenville
- Harrisville
- Hope Valley
- Hopkinton
- Jamestown
- Johnston
- Kingston
- Lincoln
- Melville
- Middletown
- Narragansett
- Narragansett Pier
- New Shoreham
- Newport
- Newport East
- North Kingstown
- North Providence
- North Scituate
- North Smithfield
- Pascoag
- Pawtucket
- Portsmouth
- Providence
- Smithfield
- South Kingstown
- Tiverton
- Valley Falls
- Wakefield-Peacedale
- Warren
- Warwick
- West Greenwich
- West Warwick
- Westerly
- Woonsocket
Frequently asked questions
How many TV stations are in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has 8 licensed TV transmitters: 5 full-power, 2 Class A, 1 low-power and 0 translator stations.
Which TV networks broadcast over the air in Rhode Island?
ABC (1 station), CBS (1 station), CW (1 station), ION (1 station) and Telemundo (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 Providence?
See the Providence channel guide for every tower within 70 miles, with channel numbers, distances and antenna directions.
Do I need an outdoor antenna in Rhode Island?
In 45% of Rhode Island's cities and towns, yes. 55% 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.