TV channels & antenna towers in Seattle, Washington

With roughly 684,000 residents, Seattle is a city in Washington. Within 70 miles of the town center we count 23 licensed TV transmitters: 14 full-power, 7 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 20 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 17 at good or strong strength.

20 of them are within 25 miles of Seattle, 2 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 1 is more than 45 miles out. Seattle is a broadcast hub in its own right: four of the 8 network stations in range are licensed here.

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). 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 Seattle are in different directions: ABC 330° NNW (2.0 mi), CBS 328° NNW (2.2 mi), NBC 334° NNW (2.0 mi) and Fox 260° W (23 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 2.0 miles northwest of Seattle (334° NNW). That one direction covers every station on the site.

Of the 8 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Seattle at fair strength or better, 50% arrive from the northwest; the rest are spread across three other directions.

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

The farthest main network tower for Seattle is KCPQ (Fox), 23 miles away with a fair 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.

KFFV is only 1.2 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 20 stations at fair strength or better, Seattle ranks 65th of 398 places in Washington: more than the typical Washington town (17). Its nearest major network tower is 1.2 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.