Boulder, CO antenna channel guide

Boulder viewers can pick up 17 full-power and Class A stations with a multi-directional indoor antenna, plus their subchannels and 11 low-power stations. The main network towers sit in 2 directions: ABC, CBS, FOX, PBS and The CW are 20 to 24 miles south and NBC is about 19 miles east.

Free channels
20
Miles to main towers
25
Aim direction
S

FCC data, Nov 6, 2026 · Signal tiers estimated without terrain

Main networks in Boulder

All six main networks reach Boulder over the air. Tune to these channels after a scan.

ABC

10.1

KSBS-CD · 20 mi S

Strong

CBS

4.1

KCNC-TV · 20 mi S

Strong

NBC

25.1

KDEN-TV · 19 mi ENE

Strong

FOX

31.1

KDVR · 20 mi S

Strong

PBS

6.1

KRMA-TV · 24 mi S

Strong

The CW

2.1

KWGN-TV · 20 mi S

Strong

Lost a channel?

No network has changed stations in the Denver area in the past two years. If a channel goes missing, a rescan usually brings it back.

Rescan in 3 steps

  1. Open your TV's settings.
  2. Find the channel, broadcast or antenna section.
  3. Run "auto scan" or "channel scan" with the input set to Antenna or Air.

Is the station hard to receive here?

KQDK-CD (RF channel 16), KVAI-CD (RF channel 4), KFCT (channel 22.1), plus 10 more, are weak in Boulder; they may come and go. If a weak station is the one you're missing, these steps can help.

Recommended for Boulder

A multi-directional indoor antenna fits Boulder

Antenna type: Multi-directional indoor.

  • ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS and The CW are all within 25 miles
  • Main network towers are south and east of the city, so one fixed aim may miss some

Do you need an amplifier?

Try without an amplifier first. Add one only if channels break up. The farthest main network station, KRMA-TV, is 24 miles away.

Splitting the signal to more TVs weakens it at each one. One antenna, several TVs

All stations

Station data from the FCC, as of

28 stations reach Boulder at a Strong or Moderate signal. Full-power and Class A stations are listed first, then low-power stations. 8 of them have no published channel number yet, so they show their RF channel; your TV may list them under a different number after a scan.

ChannelStationNetworkDistanceSignal
2.1 KWGN-TV The CW source 20 mi S Strong
4.1 KCNC-TV CBS source 20 mi S Strong
6.1 KRMA-TV PBS source 24 mi S Strong
7.1 VHF KMGH-TV ABC source 20 mi S Strong
9.1 VHF KUSA NBC source 20 mi S Strong
10.1 KSBS-CD Independent / ABC source 20 mi S Strong
12.1 VHF KBDI-TV PBS source 27 mi SSW Strong
14.1 KCEC Univision sourceEn español: 14.1 Univision 24 mi S Strong
20.1 KTVD Independent / MyNetworkTV / NBC source 20 mi S Strong
25.1 KDEN-TV Telemundo / NBC sourceEn español: 25.1 Telemundo, 25.2 TeleXitos 19 mi ENE Strong
31.1 KDVR FOX 20 mi S Strong
33.1 VHF KQCK Not listed 36 mi N Moderate
38.1 KPJR-TV TBN source 19 mi ENE Strong
41.1 KRMT Daystar source 29 mi S Strong
50.1 KTFD-TV UniMás sourceEn español: 50.1 UniMás 20 mi S Strong
53.1 KETD Estrella TV sourceEn español: 53.1 Estrella TV, 53.2 Estrella News 24 mi S Strong
59.1 KPXC-TV Ion source 19 mi ENE Strong
Low-power stations (11)
12.1 K22NW-D Translator PBS source 4.9 mi SSE Strong
24.1 VHF KHDT-LD Not listed 20 mi S Strong
30.1 VHF K12XK-D Not listed 29 mi S Strong
RF 6 Low VHF KXDP-LD Not listed 8.0 mi SSW Strong
RF 14 KZDN-LD Not listed 20 mi S Strong
RF 20 KDNF-LD Not listed 29 mi S Strong
RF 21 KDEO-LD Not listed 20 mi S Strong
RF 24 K24HQ-D Translator PBS source 4.9 mi SSE Strong
RF 27 KAVC-LD Not listed 4.9 mi SSE Strong
RF 30 KLPD-LD Not listed 20 mi S Strong
RF 30 KZCO-LD ABC source 20 mi S Strong

Broadcasts on VHF (RF channels 2 to 13). Many flat indoor antennas pick up VHF poorly. RF channels 2 to 6 need a larger antenna. VHF antenna guide

Strong: inside the station's FCC coverage area, tower within 30 miles. Moderate: inside the coverage area, tower farther away. Weak: outside it, tower within 60 miles. How we rate signals

Network and subchannel details are adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. The "source" link in each row opens the station's article.

Weak signals: 13 more stations that may need an outdoor antenna

These towers are outside the FCC coverage area for Boulder but within 60 miles. Reception depends on terrain and antenna height.

ChannelStationNetworkDistanceSignal
22.1 KFCT Not listed 48 mi NNE Weak
35.1 Low VHF KPDD-LD Not listed 20 mi S Weak
RF 2 Low VHF KBRO-LD Not listed 20 mi S Weak
RF 4 Low VHF KVAI-CD Not listed 20 mi S Weak
RF 5 Low VHF K05MD-D Not listed 46 mi SSE Weak
RF 10 VHF K10PM-D Translator Not listed 55 mi SW Weak
RF 16 KQDK-CD Not listed 20 mi S Weak
RF 16 KPXH-LD Not listed 36 mi N Weak
RF 23 KDDI-LD Not listed 27 mi SSW Weak
RF 24 KMLN-LD Not listed 33 mi N Weak
RF 26 KZFC-LD Not listed 34 mi NNE Weak
RF 26 K26GY-D Translator Not listed 52 mi WSW Weak
RF 28 K28HI-D Translator Not listed 52 mi WSW Weak

Extra channels you also get

Stations above also broadcast these 38 subchannels. They come free with the same antenna after a channel scan.

  • 4.2Start TV
  • 4.3Dabl
  • 4.5Catchy Comedy
  • 4.6Story Television
  • 7.2Ion Mystery
  • 7.3Laff
  • 9.2Cozi TV
  • 9.3True Crime Network
  • 9.5Quest
  • 9.6The Nest
  • 12.2PBS 12 Plus (4 a.m.–4 p.m.) FNX (4 p.m.–4 a.m.)
  • 12.3Deutsche Welle (4:3)
  • 12.4NHK World
  • 14.2MovieSphere Gold
  • 14.3Great (4:3)
  • 14.4Infomercials
  • 14.5Shop LC
  • 20.2Heroes & Icons
  • 20.3Shop LC
  • 20.4Quest → Outlaw (soon)
  • 25.2TeleXitos (4:3)
  • 25.3Cozi TV
  • 25.4NBC True CRMZ
  • 25.5Oxygen (4:3)
  • 25.6Nosey
  • 50.2LATV
  • 50.88AltaVision
  • 53.2Estrella News
  • 53.3Confess
  • 53.4ShopHQ
  • 53.5Buzzr
  • 59.2Bounce TV
  • 59.3Court TV
  • 59.4Ion Plus
  • 59.5Busted
  • 59.6Defy
  • 59.7Game Show Central
  • 59.8MeTV Toons

Spanish-language channels in Boulder

Canales en español

6 Spanish-language channels reach Boulder at a Strong or Moderate signal. They come with the same antenna after a channel scan.

ChannelNetworkStationSignal
14.1 Univision KCEC Strong
25.1 Telemundo KDEN-TV Strong
25.2 TeleXitos KDEN-TV Strong
50.1 UniMás KTFD-TV Strong
53.1 Estrella TV KETD Strong
53.2 Estrella News KETD Strong

Where to point your antenna

Aim south (169°). Rings at 5, 10 and 30 miles from central Boulder; dots are Strong-signal towers.

5 mi 10 mi 30 mi N E S W Main towers KDEN-TV +2 K22NW-D +2 K12XK-D +2
  • KSBS-CD, KWGN-TV, KCNC-TV and KDVR and 14 other stations: 20 to 29 miles south
  • KDEN-TV and 2 other stations: 19 miles east-northeast
  • K22NW-D and 2 other stations: 5 miles south-southeast
  • KXDP-LD: 8 miles south-southwest
  • KBDI-TV: 27 miles south-southwest

Placement and interference tips

  • Place the antenna on a south-facing window or wall. Higher is better.
  • LED bulbs, especially older or cheaper ones, can interfere. If reception gets worse when the lights are on, that's the cause.
  • Living near a cell tower? An LTE filter can block the interference.
  • Trees and hills block signals (Cord Cutters News covers these and the LED and cell tower problems), and so do metal roofs and foil radiant barriers in attics (Solid Signal). Move the antenna away from them if you can.

NextGen TV in Boulder

NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) is on the air in Boulder, broadcast from KHDT-LD and KWGN-TV. Any antenna receives it.

  • Your current TV keeps working. Today's broadcasts continue alongside NextGen TV: full-power stations that switch must keep simulcasting their main channel in today's format (CommLawCenter).
  • You need an ATSC 3.0 tuner to watch it. That means a TV or tuner box with one built in. Most TVs don't have one (PCWorld).
  • Some channels are encrypted. Some broadcasters encrypt their NextGen TV channels, and some tuners and DVRs can't play encrypted channels yet. HDHomeRun devices are one example (Antenna Land). Check before you buy, especially a DVR.
  • No shutoff date yet. Broadcasters have asked the FCC to end today's broadcasts in large markets around 2028 and everywhere around 2030. The FCC hasn't set a date (PCWorld).

Boulder antenna questions

What channel is CBS in Boulder?

CBS is channel 4.1 (KCNC-TV) on an antenna in Boulder. The tower is 20 miles south and the signal is rated Strong.

What channel is ABC in Boulder?

ABC is channel 10.1 (KSBS-CD) on an antenna in Boulder. The tower is 20 miles south and the signal is rated Strong.

What channels are NBC, FOX, PBS and The CW in Boulder?

NBC is 25.1 (KDEN-TV), FOX is 31.1 (KDVR), PBS is 6.1 (KRMA-TV) and The CW is 2.1 (KWGN-TV).

Which way should I point my antenna in Boulder?

Point it south (169 degrees). The main network towers sit in 2 directions: ABC, CBS, FOX, PBS and The CW are 20 to 24 miles south and NBC is about 19 miles east.

Do I need an outdoor antenna in Boulder?

Probably not. The main network towers are within 25 miles of central Boulder. Hills, tall buildings and thick walls can still block signals, so an attic or outdoor antenna helps if indoor reception breaks up.

Nearby cities

Other Denver-area cities with channel guides, nearest first.

Station and tower data: FCC, Nov 6, 2026. Network and subchannel data: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Signal tiers are estimates from FCC coverage areas and distance, without terrain modeling. How we estimate signals.