TV channels & antenna towers in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison has 21 TV transmitters within 70 miles, carrying ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW and ION. About 11 stations should come in at fair strength or better with a suitable antenna. The closest tower is WZCK-LD, 4.1 miles to the WSW.
Network channels in Madison
| Station | Channel | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CWWMTVCW | 15.2 | 4.6 mi | 250° WSW | Strong | Madison, WI |
| FOXWMSN-TVFox | 47 | 6.9 mi | 260° W | Strong | Madison, WI |
| IONWIFSION | 57 | 6.9 mi | 260° W | Strong | Janesville, WI |
| ABCWKOWABC | 27 | 6.9 mi | 260° W | Strong | Madison, WI |
| CBSWISC-TVCBS | 3 | 6.9 mi | 260° W | Good | Madison, WI |
| TBNWWRS-TVTrinity | 52 | 51 mi | 60° ENE | Fair | Mayville, WI |
| NBCWREXNBC | 13 | 54 mi | 171° S | Weak | Rockford, IL |
| TLMWFBN-LDTelemundo | 23 | 55 mi | 168° SSE | Poor | Rockford, IL |
| CBSWIFR-LDCBS | 23 | 55 mi | 168° SSE | Poor | Rockford, IL |
| CWWSLNCW | 19 | 55 mi | 168° SSE | Weak | Freeport, IL |
| FOXWQRF-TVFox | 39 | 56 mi | 168° SSE | Weak | Rockford, IL |
| ABCWTVOABC | 17 | 56 mi | 168° SSE | Weak | Rockford, IL |
Over-the-air TV in Madison
With roughly 249,000 residents, Madison is a city in Wisconsin. Our map shows 21 licensed TV transmitters inside a 70-mile radius: 11 full-power, 1 Class A, 7 low-power and 2 translators. Based on each transmitter's power, antenna height and distance, 11 are likely to arrive at fair strength or better, and 10 at good or strong strength.
By distance, 10 transmitters are within 25 miles, 1 between 25 and 45 miles, and 10 farther 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 best-placed network stations are ABC on channel 27 (WKOW), CBS on channel 3 (WISC-TV), NBC on channel 13 (WREX), Fox on channel 47 (WMSN-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 (very weak signal). 1 full-power station in range has no network listed in our data; these are typically public television, religious, shopping or independent stations.
Which way to point your antenna in Madison
Point your antenna W, at about 260°. The main network towers for Madison sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
Four network stations, WMSN-TV, WIFS, WKOW and WISC-TV, transmit from the same tower site about 6.9 miles west of Madison (260° W). Point at that site and a single antenna setting picks them all up.
Of the 6 full-power and Class A network signals that reach Madison at fair strength or better, 83% arrive from the west; the rest are spread across one other direction.
All of the main network towers are within their radio horizon as seen from Madison, so signals arrive fairly directly and a well-placed antenna should hold them steadily.
Antenna and amplifier advice for Madison
The farthest main network tower for Madison is WMSN-TV (Fox), 6.9 miles away with a strong estimated signal. That is why we suggest an indoor antenna here.
WREX (NBC), 54 miles south, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for that one.
WMTV is only 4.6 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 Madison
Full-power independents, low-power stations and translators that relay a bigger station's signal.
| Station | Distance | Point antenna | Est. signal | Licensed to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WZCK-LDLow power | 4.1 mi | 250° WSW | Good | Madison, WI |
| W23BW-DClass A | 4.1 mi | 250° WSW | Good | Madison, WI |
| WMWD-LDLow power | 4.1 mi | 250° WSW | Good | Madison, WI |
| WHA-TVFull power | 6.9 mi | 260° W | Strong | Madison, WI |
| WMWI-LDLow power | 9.7 mi | 47° NE | Good | Verona, WI |
| W35DY-DTranslator | 35 mi | 161° SSE | Poor | Stoughton, WI |
| WDMW-LDLow power | 62 mi | 96° E | Poor | Milwaukee, WI |
| WTAS-LDLow power | 62 mi | 96° E | Poor | Waukesha, WI |
| W29ET-DTranslator | 66 mi | 353° N | Poor | Coloma, WI |
How Madison compares with the rest of Wisconsin
With 11 stations at fair strength or better, Madison ranks 233rd of 423 places in Wisconsin: fewer than the typical Wisconsin town (12). Its nearest major network tower is 4.6 miles away, against a state median of 25 miles.
30% of Wisconsin's cities and towns get the same recommendation: an indoor antenna.
Setting up an antenna in Madison: step by step
- Place the antenna high on a window or wall that faces the towers. Upstairs is better than downstairs.
- Point it toward 260° W, the direction of WMSN-TV (Fox), 6.9 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 11 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 Madison, WI?
ABC is on channel 27 from WKOW, broadcasting from 6.9 miles W of Madison. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CBS in Madison, WI?
CBS is on channel 3 from WISC-TV, broadcasting from 6.9 miles W of Madison. Estimated signal: good.
What channel is NBC in Madison, WI?
NBC is on channel 13 from WREX, broadcasting from 54 miles S of Madison. Estimated signal: weak.
What channel is Fox in Madison, WI?
Fox is on channel 47 from WMSN-TV, broadcasting from 6.9 miles W of Madison. Estimated signal: strong.
What channel is CW in Madison, WI?
CW is on channel 15.2 from WMTV, broadcasting from 4.6 miles WSW of Madison. Estimated signal: strong.
How many channels can I get with an antenna in Madison?
21 transmitters within 70 miles of Madison; around 11 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 Madison?
Point your antenna W, at about 260°. The main network towers for Madison sit in that direction, so a single directional antenna can pick them all up.
What kind of antenna do I need in Madison?
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. Picking up NBC from up to 54 miles away would take an outdoor antenna.
Do I need an antenna amplifier in Madison?
WREX (NBC), 54 miles south, is the exception: the nearest listed affiliate of its network is far enough away to need an outdoor antenna. Some local stations in our data carry no network tag, so check the other stations table below before buying a bigger antenna just for that one.
Is there an app to find TV towers in Madison?
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
- Monona3.5 mi
- Middleton5.5 mi
- McFarland7.0 mi
- Fitchburg8.5 mi
- Waunakee8.7 mi
- Verona8.8 mi
- Cottage Grove10 mi
- Oregon10 mi
- Sun Prairie12 mi
- De Forest12 mi
- Stoughton14 mi
- Mount Horeb18 mi
- Evansville21 mi
- Prairie du Sac22 mi
- Lake Wisconsin23 mi
- Edgerton24 mi
- Lake Mills25 mi
- Columbus27 mi
- Fort Atkinson30 mi
- Jefferson30 mi
- Milton31 mi
- Brodhead31 mi
- Portage32 mi
- Baraboo32 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 Madison; signal estimates ignore terrain.