KBTC-TV channel 28.1
KBTC-TV is a PBS station on channel 28.1 in the Seattle-Tacoma area. Its tower is 3.1 miles northwest of Tacoma. 17 of the 18 Seattle-Tacoma cities we cover get it at a Strong or Moderate signal.
- Channel
- 28.1
- Band
- UHF
- Cities served
- 17
What's on KBTC-TV
KBTC-TV broadcasts 3 channels, all free with an antenna. Network names link to the channel finder for that network.
| Channel | Programming | On-screen name |
|---|---|---|
| 28.1 | PBS | PBS |
| 28.2 | NHK World | - |
| 28.3 | FNX | FNX |
Reception notes
- UHF. KBTC-TV transmits on RF channel 27, in the UHF band (RF 14 to 36).
- Channel number. Your TV shows it as 28.1 even though the signal is on RF channel 27. A channel scan finds it either way. How to rescan
- NextGen TV. The FCC does not list KBTC-TV as broadcasting in ATSC 3.0, so any digital TV tuner can receive it.
- 2 transmitter sites. KBTC-TV broadcasts from more than one site. City distances on this page use the site with the best signal for each city.
Where KBTC-TV comes in
Strongest within about 28 miles of the tower, which stands 3.1 miles to the northwest of Tacoma. 17 cities get a Strong signal. Weak in Marysville.
| City | Tower distance | Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA | 3.1 mi NW | Strong |
| Kirkland, WA | 7.4 mi SW | Strong |
| Lakewood, WA | 8.0 mi N | Strong |
| Federal Way, WA | 8.5 mi WSW | Strong |
| Redmond, WA | 10 mi WSW | Strong |
| Shoreline, WA | 10 mi S | Strong |
| Bothell, WA | 12 mi SSW | Strong |
| Sammamish, WA | 13 mi W | Strong |
| Auburn, WA | 14 mi W | Strong |
| Burien, WA | 16 mi SSW | Strong |
| Kent, WA | 16 mi WSW | Strong |
| Renton, WA | 20 mi SW | Strong |
| Lacey, WA | 21 mi NE | Strong |
| Olympia, WA | 24 mi NE | Strong |
| Everett, WA | 24 mi SSW | Strong |
| Seattle, WA | 25 mi SSW | Strong |
| Bellevue, WA | 28 mi SW | Strong |
Distance and direction are from each city's center to the tower. Signal ratings are estimates from the FCC's coverage contour and distance.
Other stations with the same network
PBS is also on KCTS-TV (9.1) and KQAH-LD (10.1) in the Seattle-Tacoma area.
Station summary
| Network | PBS |
|---|---|
| Virtual channel | 28.1 |
| RF channel | 27 (UHF) |
| Service | Full power |
| Community of license | Tacoma, WA |
| Licensee | BATES TECHNICAL COLLEGE |
| Effective radiated power | 100 kW |
| NextGen TV | No |
Sources
- FCC TV Query record for KBTC-TV (channels, tower, power, licensee and NextGen TV)
- Wikipedia: KBTC-TV (network and subchannels, CC BY-SA 4.0)
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.