Burien, WA antenna channel guide

Burien viewers can pick up 14 full-power and Class A stations with a multi-directional indoor antenna, plus their subchannels and 7 low-power stations. The main network towers stand 10 to 11 miles north of central Burien.

Free channels
16
Miles to main towers
11
Aim direction
N

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

Main networks in Burien

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

ABC

4.1

KOMO-TV · 11 mi N

Strong

CBS

7.1

KIRO-TV · 11 mi N

Strong

NBC

5.1

KING-TV · 11 mi N

Strong

FOX

22.1

KZJO · 9.8 mi N

Strong

PBS

9.1

KCTS-TV · 9.8 mi N

Strong

The CW

51.1

KUNS-TV · 11 mi N

Strong

Lost a channel?

No network has changed stations in the Seattle-Tacoma 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?

K18NH-D (channel 7.1) and K29ED-D (RF channel 29) are weak in Burien; they may come and go. If a weak station is the one you're missing, these steps can help.

Recommended for Burien

A multi-directional indoor antenna fits Burien

Antenna type: Multi-directional indoor, with VHF reception.

KCTS-TV (PBS, 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 11 miles

Do you need an amplifier?

You likely don't need an amplifier. The towers are close, and a strong signal plus an amplifier can overload your TV's tuner. The farthest main network station, KIRO-TV, is 11 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

21 stations reach Burien at a Strong or Moderate signal. Full-power and Class A stations are listed first, then low-power stations. 5 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
4.1 KOMO-TV ABC source 11 mi N Strong
5.1 KING-TV NBC source 11 mi N Strong
7.1 KIRO-TV CBS sourceEn español: 7.4 Telemundo 11 mi N Strong
9.1 VHF KCTS-TV PBS source 9.8 mi N Strong
11.1 VHF KSTW Independent source 9.8 mi N Strong
13.1 VHF KCPQ FOX source 22 mi WNW Strong
16.1 KONG Independent source 11 mi N Strong
20.1 KTBW-TV TBN source 22 mi WNW Strong
22.1 KZJO Independent / MyNetworkTV / FOX source 9.8 mi N Strong
28.1 KBTC-TV PBS source 16 mi SSW Strong
33.1 KWPX-TV Ion source 18 mi E Strong
44.1 KFFV Univision sourceEn español: 44.1 Univision 9.8 mi N Strong
51.1 KUNS-TV The CW source 11 mi N Strong
56.1 KWDK Daystar sourceEn español: 56.2 Daystar Español 18 mi E Strong
Low-power stations (7)
7.1 K18NI-D Translator CBS sourceEn español: 7.4 Telemundo 5.5 mi SW Strong
10.1 KQAH-LD PBS 11 mi N Strong
RF 6 Low VHF KYMU-LD Not listed 11 mi N Strong
RF 8 VHF K08QY-D Translator Not listed 16 mi SSW Strong
RF 12 VHF KUSE-LD Not listed 18 mi E Strong
RF 20 K20NF-D Not listed 11 mi N Strong
RF 32 KRUM-LD Not listed 11 mi N 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: 2 more stations that may need an outdoor antenna

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

ChannelStationNetworkDistanceSignal
7.1 K18NH-D Translator CBS source 21 mi S Weak
RF 29 K29ED-D Not listed 36 mi NNE Weak

Extra channels you also get

Stations above also broadcast these 41 subchannels. They come free with the same antenna after a channel scan.

  • 4.2Comet
  • 4.3Charge!
  • 5.2True Crime Network
  • 5.3Quest
  • 5.4365BLK
  • 5.5QVC2
  • 7.2Cozi TV
  • 7.3Laff
  • 7.4Telemundo
  • 9.2PBS Kids
  • 9.3Create
  • 9.4World Channel
  • 11.2Start TV
  • 11.3Outlaw (4:3)
  • 11.4Dabl
  • 11.5MovieSphere Gold
  • 11.6HSN
  • 13.2Grit
  • 13.3Ion Mystery
  • 13.4Buzzr
  • 13.5Fox Weather
  • 22.3Antenna TV
  • 22.5Nosey
  • 28.2NHK World
  • 28.3FNX
  • 33.2Court TV
  • 33.3Bounce TV
  • 33.4Defy
  • 33.5Ion Plus
  • 33.6Busted
  • 33.7Game Show Central
  • 33.8QVC
  • 44.2Movies!
  • 44.3Heroes & Icons
  • 44.4Catchy Comedy
  • 44.5MeTV+
  • 44.6Story Television
  • 44.7MeTV Toons
  • 44.12OnTV4U (Infomercials)
  • 56.2Daystar Español
  • 56.3Daystar in SD

Spanish-language channels in Burien

Canales en español

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

ChannelNetworkStationSignal
7.4 Telemundo K18NI-D Strong
7.4 Telemundo KIRO-TV Strong
44.1 Univision KFFV Strong
56.2 Daystar Español KWDK Strong

Where to point your antenna

Aim north (358°). Rings at 5, 10 and 25 miles from central Burien; dots are Strong-signal towers.

5 mi 10 mi 25 mi N E S W Main towers KCTS-TV +3 KUSE-LD +2 K08QY-D +1
  • KCTS-TV, KZJO, KUNS-TV and KOMO-TV and 7 other stations: 10 to 11 miles north
  • KWPX-TV and 2 other stations: 18 miles east
  • KBTC-TV and 1 other station: 16 miles south-southwest
  • KTBW-TV and 1 other station: 22 miles west-northwest
  • K18NI-D: 6 miles southwest

Placement and interference tips

  • Place the antenna on a north-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 Burien

NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) is on the air in Burien, broadcast from KONG and KUNS-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).

Burien antenna questions

What channel is CBS in Burien?

CBS is channel 7.1 (KIRO-TV) on an antenna in Burien. The tower is 11 miles north and the signal is rated Strong.

What channel is ABC in Burien?

ABC is channel 4.1 (KOMO-TV) on an antenna in Burien. The tower is 11 miles north and the signal is rated Strong.

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

NBC is 5.1 (KING-TV), FOX is 22.1 (KZJO), PBS is 9.1 (KCTS-TV) and The CW is 51.1 (KUNS-TV).

Which way should I point my antenna in Burien?

Point it north (358 degrees). The main network towers are 10 to 11 miles north of central Burien.

Do I need an outdoor antenna in Burien?

Probably not. The main network towers are within 11 miles of central Burien. 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 Seattle-Tacoma-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.