TV channels & antenna towers in South Padre Island, Texas

South Padre Island, Texas has a population of about 2,880. There are 14 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 6 full-power, 3 Class A and 5 low-power. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 7 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 3 at good or strong strength.

2 of them are within 25 miles of South Padre Island, 6 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 6 are more than 45 miles out. Three of the 9 network stations in range are licensed to McAllen, so most of the network channels you will find here come from McAllen's stations.

The best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 5 (KRGV-TV), NBC on channel 23 (KVEO-TV), Fox on channel 60 (KFXV-LD), CW on channel 67.2 (KMBH), ION on channel 57.2 (KAZH-LD), Univision on channel 48 (KNVO) and Trinity on channel 44 (KLUJ-TV). No CBS affiliate is listed within 70 miles; the nearest one in our data is KZTV in Corpus Christi, TX, 115 miles to the north. Spanish-language viewers can pick up Univision (fair signal). 1 full-power station in range has no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Point your antenna W, at about 270°. The main network towers for South Padre Island sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

Three network stations, KMBH, KVEO-TV and KRGV-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 41 miles west of South Padre Island (272° W). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.

Of the 5 full-power and Class A network signals that reach South Padre Island at fair strength or better, all arrive from the west, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

The farthest main network tower for South Padre Island is KVEO-TV (NBC), 42 miles away with a good estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. Viewers who do not need that station can often manage with less.

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 7 stations at fair strength or better, South Padre Island ranks 767th of 1,039 places in Texas: fewer than the typical Texas town (14). Its nearest major network tower is 24 miles away, against a state median of 26 miles.

43% of Texas's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Brownsville, 25 miles away.