TV channels & antenna towers in Albany, Wisconsin
Albany has 22 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 14 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is W35DY-D, 16 miles to the ESE.
Network channels in Albany
| Station | Channel | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CWWMTVCW | 15.2 | 24 mi | 354° N | Good | Madison, WI |
| FOXWMSN-TVFox | 47 | 25 mi | 348° NNW | Good | Madison, WI |
| IONWIFSION | 57 | 25 mi | 348° NNW | Good | Janesville, WI |
| ABCWKOWABC | 27 | 25 mi | 348° NNW | Good | Madison, WI |
| CBSWISC-TVCBS | 3 | 25 mi | 348° NNW | Fair | Madison, WI |
| NBCWREXNBC | 13 | 30 mi | 160° SSE | Fair | Rockford, IL |
| TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo | 23 | 31 mi | 154° SSE | Weak | Rockford, IL |
| CBSWIFR-LDCBS | 23 | 31 mi | 154° SSE | Weak | Rockford, IL |
| CWWSLNCW | 19 | 31 mi | 154° SSE | Fair | Freeport, IL |
| FOXWQRF-TVFox | 39 | 32 mi | 155° SSE | Good | Rockford, IL |
| ABCWTVOABC | 17 | 32 mi | 155° SSE | Good | Rockford, IL |
| TBNWWRS-TVTrinity | 52 | 68 mi | 42° NE | Poor | Mayville, WI |
Over-the-air TV in Albany
With roughly 1,020 residents, Albany is a small community in Wisconsin. Our map shows 22 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 12 full-power, 1 Class A, 8 low-power and 1 translator. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 14 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 7 at good or strong strength.
10 of them are within 25 miles of Albany, 7 sit 25 to 45 miles away and 5 are more than 45 miles out. Five of the 12 network stations in range are licensed to Rockford, IL, so most of the network channels you will find here come from Rockford's stations.
The strongest network signals here are ABC on channel 27 (WKOW), CBS on channel 3 (WISC-TV), NBC on channel 13 (WREX), Fox on channel 39 (WQRF-TV), CW on channel 15.2 (WMTV), ION on channel 57 (WIFS), Telemundo on channel 23 (WFBN-LD) and Trinity on channel 52 (WWRS-TV). Spanish-language viewers can pick up Telemundo (weak signal). 2 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 Albany
The main network towers around Albany are in different directions: ABC 348° NNW (25 mi), CBS 348° NNW (25 mi), NBC 160° SSE (30 mi) and Fox 155° SSE (32 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.
Four network stations, WMSN-TV, WIFS, WKOW and WISC-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 25 miles north of Albany (348° NNW). Aim there first: one setting covers all of them.
Of the 9 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Albany at fair strength or better, 56% 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 Albany, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.
Antenna and amplifier advice for Albany
The farthest main network tower for Albany is WQRF-TV (Fox), 32 miles away with a good 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.
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.
Other stations near Albany
Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.
| Station | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W35DY-DTranslator | 16 mi | 121° ESE | Fair | Stoughton, WI |
| WZCK-LDLow power | 24 mi | 355° N | Fair | Madison, WI |
| W23BW-DClass A | 24 mi | 355° N | Fair | Madison, WI |
| WMWD-LDLow power | 24 mi | 355° N | Fair | Madison, WI |
| WHA-TVFull power | 25 mi | 348° NNW | Good | Madison, WI |
| WMWI-LDLow power | 33 mi | 16° NNE | Weak | Verona, WI |
| W27EJ-DLow power | 57 mi | 189° S | Poor | Sterling, IL |
| KFXB-TVFull power | 62 mi | 258° WSW | Weak | Dubuque, IA |
| WDMW-LDLow power | 66 mi | 74° ENE | Poor | Milwaukee, WI |
| WTAS-LDLow power | 66 mi | 74° ENE | Poor | Waukesha, WI |
How Albany compares with the rest of Wisconsin
With 14 stations at fair strength or better, Albany ranks 172nd of 423 places in Wisconsin: more than the typical Wisconsin town (12). Its nearest major network tower is 24 miles away, against a state median of 25 miles.
44% of Wisconsin's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an amplified indoor or attic antenna. The nearest larger city is Fitchburg, 18 miles away.
Setting up an antenna in Albany: step by step
- Mount the antenna in the attic or high on the wall facing the towers, keeping the cable to the TV as short as you can.
- Point it toward 155° SSE, the direction of WQRF-TV (Fox), 32 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 14 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 Albany, WI?
ABC is on channel 27 from WKOW, broadcasting from 25 miles NNW of Albany. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is CBS in Albany, WI?
CBS is on channel 3 from WISC-TV, broadcasting from 25 miles NNW of Albany. Estimated signal: fair.
What channel is NBC in Albany, WI?
NBC is on channel 13 from WREX, broadcasting from 30 miles SSE of Albany. Estimated signal: fair.
What channel is Fox in Albany, WI?
Fox is on channel 39 from WQRF-TV, broadcasting from 32 miles SSE of Albany. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is CW in Albany, WI?
CW is on channel 15.2 from WMTV, broadcasting from 24 miles N of Albany. Estimated signal: good.
How many channels can I get with an antenna in Albany?
22 transmitters within 70 miles of Albany; around 14 of them are likely to be receivable with amplified indoor or attic 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 Albany?
The main network towers around Albany are in different directions: ABC 348° NNW (25 mi), CBS 348° NNW (25 mi), NBC 160° SSE (30 mi) and Fox 155° SSE (32 mi). Aim at the farthest one you want first, or use a multi-directional antenna.
What kind of antenna do I need in Albany?
Amplified indoor or attic antenna (25–45 miles). Towers are at medium range. An amplified indoor antenna can work; an attic-mounted antenna is the safer choice. The towers are spread over about 172° of the compass, so a multi-directional antenna or a rotator will help.
Do I need an antenna amplifier in Albany?
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.
Is there an app to find TV towers in Albany?
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 Wisconsin cities
- Brodhead6.9 mi
- Evansville8.6 mi
- Monroe13 mi
- Oregon15 mi
- Fitchburg18 mi
- Stoughton18 mi
- Verona20 mi
- Edgerton21 mi
- Janesville21 mi
- McFarland22 mi
- Beloit25 mi
- Monona25 mi
- Madison25 mi
- Milton25 mi
- Mount Horeb26 mi
- Middleton27 mi
- Cottage Grove28 mi
Nearby cities in other states
- Lake Summerset, IL18 mi
- South Beloit, IL25 mi
- Rockton, IL26 mi
- Roscoe, IL30 mi
- Freeport, IL30 mi
- Lena, IL30 mi
- Warren, IL32 mi
More: all TV stations in Wisconsin · Midwest region · antenna buying guide · how to aim an antenna. Distances are straight-line from the center of Albany; signal estimates ignore terrain.