KCTS-TV channel 9.1
KCTS-TV is a PBS station on channel 9.1 in the Seattle-Tacoma area. Its tower is 2.0 miles east of Seattle. 18 of the 18 Seattle-Tacoma cities we cover get it at a Strong or Moderate signal.
- Channel
- 9.1
- Band
- VHF
- Cities served
- 18
What's on KCTS-TV
KCTS-TV broadcasts 4 channels, all free with an antenna. Network names link to the channel finder for that network.
| Channel | Programming | On-screen name |
|---|---|---|
| 9.1 | PBS | PBS |
| 9.2 | PBS Kids | KIDS |
| 9.3 | Create | Create |
| 9.4 | World Channel | WORLD |
Reception notes
- VHF. KCTS-TV transmits on RF channel 9, in the High VHF band (RF 7 to 13). Many flat indoor antennas pick up VHF poorly, so choose an antenna rated for VHF as well as UHF. VHF antenna guide
- NextGen TV. The FCC does not list KCTS-TV as broadcasting in ATSC 3.0, so any digital TV tuner can receive it.
Where KCTS-TV comes in
Strongest within about 26 miles of the tower, which stands 2.0 miles to the east of Seattle. 14 cities get a Strong signal and 4 get Moderate, out to 48 miles.
| City | Tower distance | Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 2.0 mi E | Strong |
| Bellevue, WA | 7.2 mi W | Strong |
| Kirkland, WA | 7.4 mi SW | Strong |
| Burien, WA | 9.8 mi N | Strong |
| Shoreline, WA | 9.9 mi S | Strong |
| Redmond, WA | 10 mi WSW | Strong |
| Renton, WA | 11 mi NNW | Strong |
| Bothell, WA | 12 mi SSW | Strong |
| Sammamish, WA | 13 mi W | Strong |
| Kent, WA | 16 mi NNW | Strong |
| Federal Way, WA | 21 mi N | Strong |
| Auburn, WA | 22 mi NNW | Strong |
| Everett, WA | 24 mi SSW | Strong |
| Tacoma, WA | 26 mi NNE | Strong |
| Lakewood, WA | 33 mi NNE | Moderate |
| Marysville, WA | 33 mi SSW | Moderate |
| Lacey, WA | 46 mi NNE | Moderate |
| Olympia, WA | 48 mi NE | Moderate |
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 KBTC-TV (28.1) and KQAH-LD (10.1) in the Seattle-Tacoma area.
Station summary
| Network | PBS |
|---|---|
| Virtual channel | 9.1 |
| RF channel | 9 (VHF-high) |
| Service | Full power |
| Community of license | Seattle, WA |
| Licensee | CASCADE PUBLIC MEDIA |
| Effective radiated power | 22 kW |
| NextGen TV | No |
Sources
- FCC TV Query record for KCTS-TV (channels, tower, power, licensee and NextGen TV)
- Wikipedia: KCTS-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.