TV channels & antenna towers in Falls Church, Virginia

Falls Church has 44 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS and CW. About 32 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WDCN-LD, 2.9 miles to the W.

Open Falls Church in the live finder

44TV transmitters within 70 miles

10networks over the air

2.9 mito the closest tower

13,892population

Network channels in Falls Church

Station	Channel	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
CWWDCWCW	50	6.3 mi	50° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
NBCWRC-TVNBC	4	6.3 mi	50° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
TLMWZDC-CDTelemundo	44	6.3 mi	50° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
UNIWFDC-DTUnivision	14	6.3 mi	50° NE	Strong	Arlington, VA
MeTVWDME-CDMeTV	48.1	6.3 mi	50° NE	Good	Washington, DC
FOXWTTGFox	5	6.7 mi	32° NNE	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWPXW-TVION	66	6.7 mi	32° NNE	Strong	Manassas, VA
ABCWJLA-TVABC	7	6.8 mi	46° NE	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWHUT-TVPBS	32	6.8 mi	46° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
CBSWUSACBS	9	6.8 mi	46° NE	Good	Washington, DC
PBSWETA-TVPBS	26	6.8 mi	46° NE	Strong	Washington, DC
IONWWPX-TVION	60	41 mi	308° NW	Weak	Martinsburg, WV
CBSWJZ-TVCBS	13	42 mi	42° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
ABCWMAR-TVABC	2	42 mi	42° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
NBCWBAL-TVNBC	11	42 mi	42° NE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
CWWNUVCW	54	42 mi	42° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
FOXWBFFFox	45	42 mi	42° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD

Over-the-air TV in Falls Church

Falls Church, Virginia has a population of about 13,900. There are 44 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 25 full-power, 6 Class A, 12 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 32 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 27 at good or strong strength.

By distance, 21 transmitters are within 25 miles, 12 between 25 and 45 miles, and 11 farther out. Nine of the 17 network stations in range are licensed to Washington, DC, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Washington's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 7 (WJLA-TV), CBS on channel 9 (WUSA), NBC on channel 4 (WRC-TV), Fox on channel 5 (WTTG), PBS on channel 26 (WETA-TV), CW on channel 50 (WDCW), ION on channel 66 (WPXW-TV), Telemundo on channel 44 (WZDC-CD), Univision on channel 14 (WFDC-DT) and MeTV on channel 48.1 (WDME-CD). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (strong signal) and Univision (strong signal). 10 full-power stations in range have no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.

Which way to point your antenna in Falls Church

Point your antenna NE, at about 44°. The main network towers for Falls Church sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

11 network stations, WDCW, WRC-TV, WZDC-CD, WFDC-DT and WDME-CD and others, transmit from the same tower site about 6.3 miles northeast of Falls Church (50° NE). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.

Of the 16 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Falls Church at fair strength or better, all arrive from the northeast, so this is an easy place to aim.

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

Antenna and amplifier advice for Falls Church

The farthest main network tower for Falls Church is WETA-TV (PBS), 6.8 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

WDCW is only 6.3 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.

Other stations near Falls Church

Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal. Showing the closest 25 of 27; see all in the finder.

Station	Distance	Point antenna	Est. signal	Licensed to
WDCN-LDLow power	2.9 mi	259° W	Good	Fairfax, VA
WMDO-CDClass A	6.3 mi	50° NE	Good	Washington, DC
WRZB-LDLow power	6.3 mi	50° NE	Good	Washington, DC
WWTD-LDLow power	6.3 mi	50° NE	Good	Washington, DC
WDCO-CDClass A	6.3 mi	50° NE	Good	Woodstock, VA
WIAV-CDClass A	6.3 mi	50° NE	Good	Washington, DC
WDCAFull power	6.7 mi	32° NNE	Strong	Washington, DC
WJALFull power	6.8 mi	46° NE	Good	Silver Spring, MD
WDDN-LDLow power	10 mi	37° NE	Good	Washington, DC
WDWA-LDLow power	18 mi	18° NNE	Weak	Damascus, VA
W10DE-DLow power	26 mi	73° ENE	Weak	Washington, DC
WFPTFull power	27 mi	344° NNW	Good	Frederick, MD
WMPTFull power	31 mi	74° ENE	Good	Annapolis, MD
WQAW-LDLow power	31 mi	74° ENE	Weak	Lake Shore, MD
WUTBFull power	42 mi	42° NE	Good	Baltimore, MD
WMPBFull power	44 mi	28° NNE	Fair	Baltimore, MD
WDVM-TVFull power	46 mi	277° W	Good	Hagerstown, MD
WMJF-CDClass A	47 mi	40° NE	Poor	Towson, MD
WLZH-LDLow power	55 mi	37° NE	Poor	Baltimore, MD
W13DW-DLow power	58 mi	85° E	Poor	Annapolis, MD
WMDEFull power	58 mi	85° E	Poor	Dover, DE
W13DV-DLow power	60 mi	229° SW	Poor	Rapidan, VA
W14DK-DLow power	62 mi	105° ESE	Poor	Dagsboro, DE
W08EE-DTranslator	62 mi	310° NW	Poor	Martinsburg, WV
WVPYFull power	63 mi	275° W	Fair	New Market, VA

How Falls Church compares with the rest of Virginia

With 32 stations at fair strength or better, Falls Church ranks 14th of 381 places in Virginia: more than the typical Virginia town (16). Its nearest major network tower is 6.3 miles away, against a state median of 21 miles.

33% of Virginia's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna. The nearest larger city is West Falls Church, 1.5 miles away.

Setting up an antenna in Falls Church: step by step

Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
Point it toward 46° NE, the direction of WETA-TV (PBS), 6.8 miles away. Closer stations usually come in even off-axis.
Run a full channel scan on your TV (usually Settings → Channels → Auto program; the name varies by brand).
Expect around 32 stations, each with a few subchannels. If one you want is missing, turn the antenna 5–10° toward it and scan again.
Rescan every few months, or whenever a channel disappears; stations occasionally change frequency.

Frequently asked questions

What channel is ABC in Falls Church, VA?

ABC is on channel 7 from WJLA-TV, broadcasting from 6.8 miles NE of Falls Church. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is CBS in Falls Church, VA?

CBS is on channel 9 from WUSA, broadcasting from 6.8 miles NE of Falls Church. Estimated signal: good.

What channel is NBC in Falls Church, VA?

NBC is on channel 4 from WRC-TV, broadcasting from 6.3 miles NE of Falls Church. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is Fox in Falls Church, VA?

Fox is on channel 5 from WTTG, broadcasting from 6.7 miles NNE of Falls Church. Estimated signal: strong.

What channel is PBS in Falls Church, VA?

PBS is on channel 26 from WETA-TV, broadcasting from 6.8 miles NE of Falls Church. Estimated signal: strong.

How many channels can I get with an antenna in Falls Church?

44 transmitters within 70 miles of Falls Church; around 32 of them are likely to be receivable with indoor antenna. Each station usually carries several subchannels, so the total channel count after a scan is higher.

Which direction should I point my TV antenna in Falls Church?

Point your antenna NE, at about 44°. The main network towers for Falls Church sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.

What kind of antenna do I need in Falls Church?

Indoor antenna (up to ~25 miles). The main towers are close. A flat indoor antenna near a window facing the towers should pull in the major networks.

Do I need an antenna amplifier in Falls Church?

WDCW is only 6.3 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.

Is there an app to find TV towers in Falls Church?

Yes. The free RCA Signal Finder app for iPhone and Android uses your phone's GPS and compass to show which way each tower is from where you stand.

TV channels in nearby Virginia cities

Nearby cities in other states

Washington, D.C., DC7.3 mi

More: all TV stations in Virginia · South region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Falls Church; signal estimates ignore terrain.