TV channels & antenna towers in Des Moines, Washington

Des Moines is a town of about 31,200 people in Washington. There are 25 licensed TV transmitters within 70 miles: 15 full-power, 8 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 21 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 13 at good or strong strength.

21 of them are within 25 miles of Des Moines, 1 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 3 are more than 45 miles out. Four of the 8 network stations in range are licensed to Seattle, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Seattle's stations.

For the networks, the best local options are ABC on channel 4 (KOMO-TV), CBS on channel 7 (KIRO-TV), NBC on channel 5 (KING-TV), Fox on channel 13 (KCPQ), CW on channel 51 (KUNS-TV), ION on channel 33 (KWPX-TV), MeTV on channel 44.1 (KFFV) and Trinity on channel 20 (KTBW-TV). 7 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 Des Moines are in different directions: ABC 355° N (16 mi), CBS 355° N (16 mi), NBC 356° N (16 mi) and Fox 294° WNW (25 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.

Four network stations, KING-TV, KUNS-TV, KOMO-TV and KIRO-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 16 miles north of Des Moines (356° N). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 8 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Des Moines at fair strength or better, 63% arrive from the north; the rest are spread across two other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Des Moines is KCPQ (Fox), 25 miles away with a fair estimated signal. That is why we suggest an amplified indoor or attic antenna here. Skip that station and you may get away with a smaller antenna.

KZJO is only 15 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 21 stations at fair strength or better, Des Moines ranks 5th of 398 places in Washington: more than the typical Washington town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 15 miles away, against a state median of 19 miles.

60% of Washington's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Kent, 4.4 miles away.