Denver, CO antenna channel guide

Denver viewers can pick up 24 full-power and Class A stations with an indoor antenna, plus their subchannels and 11 low-power stations. The main network towers stand about 19 miles west of central Denver.

Free channels
25
Miles to main towers
20
Aim direction
W

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

Main networks in Denver

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

ABC

7.1

KMGH-TV · 19 mi W

Strong

CBS

4.1

KCNC-TV · 19 mi W

Strong

NBC

20.1

KTVD · 19 mi W

Strong

FOX

31.1

KDVR · 19 mi W

Strong

PBS

6.1

KRMA-TV · 19 mi WSW

Strong

The CW

2.1

KWGN-TV · 19 mi W

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?

KOAA-TV (channel 5.1), K22NW-D (channel 12.1), K24HQ-D (RF channel 24), plus 11 more, are weak in Denver; they may come and go. If a weak station is the one you're missing, these steps can help.

Recommended for Denver

An indoor antenna should work in Denver

Antenna type: Indoor, with VHF reception.

KMGH-TV (ABC, channel 7.1) broadcasts on VHF, so choose an antenna rated for VHF as well as UHF.

KUSA (NBC, channel 9.1) broadcasts on VHF, so choose an antenna rated for VHF as well as UHF.

How to choose an antenna for VHF channels

  • ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS and The CW are all within 20 miles
  • The main towers sit west, so one aim works

Do you need an amplifier?

Try without an amplifier first. Add one only if channels break up. The farthest main network station, KDVR, is 19 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

35 stations reach Denver at a Strong or Moderate signal. Full-power and Class A stations are listed first, then low-power stations. 10 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 19 mi W Strong
3.1 KCDO-TV Independent / ABC source 53 mi ENE Moderate
4.1 KCNC-TV CBS source 19 mi W Strong
6.1 KRMA-TV PBS source 19 mi WSW Strong
7.1 VHF KMGH-TV ABC source 19 mi W Strong
8.1 VHF KTSC PBS source 70 mi S Moderate
9.1 VHF KUSA NBC source 19 mi W Strong
10.1 KSBS-CD Independent / ABC source 19 mi W Strong
11.1 KKTV CBS source 70 mi S Moderate
12.1 VHF KBDI-TV PBS source 33 mi W Moderate
13.1 KRDO-TV ABC source 70 mi S Moderate
14.1 KCEC Univision sourceEn español: 14.1 Univision 19 mi WSW Strong
20.1 KTVD Independent / MyNetworkTV / NBC source 19 mi W Strong
25.1 KDEN-TV Telemundo / NBC sourceEn español: 25.1 Telemundo, 25.2 TeleXitos 23 mi N Strong
31.1 KDVR FOX 19 mi W Strong
33.1 VHF KQCK Not listed 57 mi NNW Moderate
38.1 KPJR-TV TBN source 23 mi N Strong
41.1 KRMT Daystar source 21 mi WSW Strong
48.1 KVSN-DT Univision sourceEn español: 48.1 Univision 70 mi S Moderate
50.1 KTFD-TV UniMás sourceEn español: 50.1 UniMás 19 mi W Strong
53.1 KETD Estrella TV sourceEn español: 53.1 Estrella TV, 53.2 Estrella News 19 mi WSW Strong
59.1 KPXC-TV Ion source 23 mi N Strong
RF 4 Low VHF KVAI-CD Not listed 19 mi W Strong
RF 16 KQDK-CD Not listed 19 mi W Strong
Low-power stations (11)
24.1 VHF KHDT-LD Not listed 19 mi W Strong
30.1 VHF K12XK-D Not listed 21 mi WSW Strong
35.1 Low VHF KPDD-LD Not listed 19 mi W Strong
RF 2 Low VHF KBRO-LD Not listed 19 mi W Strong
RF 5 Low VHF K05MD-D Not listed 28 mi SSW Strong
RF 6 Low VHF KXDP-LD Not listed 24 mi WNW Strong
RF 14 KZDN-LD Not listed 19 mi W Strong
RF 20 KDNF-LD Not listed 21 mi WSW Strong
RF 21 KDEO-LD Not listed 19 mi W Strong
RF 30 KLPD-LD Not listed 19 mi W Strong
RF 30 KZCO-LD ABC source 19 mi W 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: 14 more stations that may need an outdoor antenna

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

ChannelStationNetworkDistanceSignal
5.1 KOAA-TV NBC source 54 mi S Weak
12.1 K22NW-D Translator PBS source 22 mi NW Weak
12.1 K17OE-D PBS source 60 mi S Weak
13.1 K19MN-D Translator ABC source 54 mi S Weak
21.1 K28GE-D FOX / The CW source 54 mi S Weak
30.1 VHF K11XJ-D Not listed 60 mi S Weak
RF 9 VHF KTNP-LD Not listed 60 mi S Weak
RF 16 KPXH-LD Not listed 57 mi NNW Weak
RF 23 KDDI-LD Not listed 33 mi W Weak
RF 24 K24HQ-D Translator PBS source 22 mi NW Weak
RF 24 KMLN-LD Not listed 53 mi NNW Weak
RF 26 KZFC-LD Not listed 48 mi N Weak
RF 27 KAVC-LD Not listed 22 mi NW Weak
RF 29 K29HM-D Translator PBS source 60 mi SW Weak

Extra channels you also get

Stations above also broadcast these 49 subchannels. They come free with the same antenna after a channel scan.

  • 3.2Grit
  • 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
  • 11.2MeTV & MyNetworkTV
  • 11.3Outlaw
  • 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
  • 13.3Newscast replays
  • 13.4Dabl
  • 13.5QVC
  • 13.6HSN
  • 13.7Heroes & Icons
  • 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
  • 48.3LATV
  • 48.5True Crime Network
  • 48.88AltaVision
  • 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 Denver

Canales en español

7 Spanish-language channels reach Denver 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
48.1 Univision KVSN-DT Moderate
50.1 UniMás KTFD-TV Strong
53.1 Estrella TV KETD Strong
53.2 Estrella News KETD Strong

Where to point your antenna

Aim west (265°). Rings at 5, 10 and 30 miles from central Denver; dots are Strong-signal towers.

5 mi 10 mi 30 mi N E S W Main towers KRMA-TV +2 K12XK-D +2 KPXC-TV +2
  • KMGH-TV, KTVD, KCNC-TV and KWGN-TV and 12 other stations: 19 miles west
  • KRMA-TV and 2 other stations: 19 miles west-southwest
  • KRMT and 2 other stations: 21 miles west-southwest
  • KPXC-TV and 2 other stations: 23 miles north
  • KXDP-LD: 24 miles west-northwest

Placement and interference tips

  • Place the antenna on a west-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 Denver

NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) is on the air in Denver, 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).

Denver antenna questions

What channel is CBS in Denver?

CBS is channel 4.1 (KCNC-TV) on an antenna in Denver. The tower is 19 miles west and the signal is rated Strong.

What channel is ABC in Denver?

ABC is channel 7.1 (KMGH-TV) on an antenna in Denver. The tower is 19 miles west and the signal is rated Strong.

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

NBC is 20.1 (KTVD), 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 Denver?

Point it west (265 degrees). The main network towers are about 19 miles west of central Denver.

Do I need an outdoor antenna in Denver?

Probably not. The main network towers are within 20 miles of central Denver. 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.