TV channels & antenna towers in Central, Tennessee

Central, Tennessee has a population of about 2,690. There are 35 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 15 full-power, 2 Class A, 16 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 14 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 11 at good or strong strength.

2 of them are within 25 miles of Central, 16 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 17 are more than 45 miles out. Seven of the 13 network stations in range are licensed to Memphis, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Memphis's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 24 (WATN-TV), CBS on channel 3 (WREG-TV), NBC on channel 5 (WMC-TV), Fox on channel 16 (WJKT), CW on channel 30 (WLMT), ION on channel 50 (WPXX-TV), Telemundo on channel 14 (WTME-LD) and Trinity on channel 40 (WBUY-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (very weak signal). 6 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 Central are in different directions: ABC 200° SSW (39 mi) and Fox 92° E (25 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Three network stations, WATN-TV, WBUY-TV and WLMT, transmit from the same tower site about 39 miles south of Central (200° SSW). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 9 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Central at fair strength or better, 67% arrive from the south; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Central is WATN-TV (ABC), 39 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here.

WREG-TV (CBS), 46 miles south and WMC-TV (NBC), 48 miles southwest, 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.

With 14 stations at fair strength or better, Central ranks 171st of 299 places in Tennessee: fewer than the typical Tennessee town (15). Its nearest major network tower is 25 miles away, against a state median of 23 miles.

38% of Tennessee's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Jackson, 43 miles away.