Antenna Channel Guide

Federal Way, WA antenna channels

FCC station data as of November 6, 2026. Signal ratings are estimates without terrain.

ChannelNetworkCall signSignal
4.1ABCKOMO-TVStrong
5.1NBCKING-TVStrong
7.1CBSKIRO-TVStrong
9.1PBSKCTS-TVStrong
11.1IndependentKSTWStrong
13.1FOXKCPQStrong
16.1IndependentKONGStrong
20.1TBNKTBW-TVStrong
22.1Independent / MyNetworkTV / FOXKZJOStrong
28.1PBSKBTC-TVStrong
33.1IonKWPX-TVStrong
44.1UnivisionKFFVStrong
51.1The CWKUNS-TVStrong
56.1DaystarKWDKStrong
Low-power stations
7.1CBSK18NI-DStrong
7.1CBSK18NH-DStrong
10.1PBSKQAH-LDStrong
RF 6Not listedKYMU-LDStrong
RF 12Not listedKUSE-LDStrong
RF 20Not listedK20NF-DStrong
RF 32Not listedKRUM-LDStrong
Weak signals (may need an outdoor antenna)
RF 8Not listedK08QY-DWeak
RF 29Not listedK29ED-DWeak

Channel missing? Rescan your TV. Updated list: antennachannelguide.com/wa/federal-way/

Federal Way, WA antenna channel guide

Federal Way 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 sit in 2 directions: ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and The CW are 21 to 22 miles north and PBS is about 8 miles west.

Free channels
17
Miles to main towers
23
Aim direction
N

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

Main networks in Federal Way

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

ABC

4.1

KOMO-TV · 22 mi N

Strong

CBS

7.1

KIRO-TV · 22 mi N

Strong

NBC

5.1

KING-TV · 22 mi N

Strong

FOX

22.1

KZJO · 21 mi N

Strong

PBS

28.1

KBTC-TV · 8.5 mi WSW

Strong

The CW

51.1

KUNS-TV · 22 mi N

Strong

Want these channels on a streaming service instead? See local channels without cable.

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.

Menu names vary by brand: see antenna setup by TV brand and when and how to rescan.

Is the station hard to receive here?

K08QY-D (RF channel 8) and K29ED-D (RF channel 29) are weak in Federal Way; they may come and go. If a weak station is the one you're missing, these steps can help.

Still missing a channel? Our antenna troubleshooter walks through no channels, breakups, channels that come and go and NextGen channels that won't play, and can check any Federal Way station for you.

Recommended for Federal Way

A multi-directional indoor antenna fits Federal Way

Antenna type: Multi-directional indoor.

  • ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS and The CW are all within 23 miles
  • Main network towers are north and west 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, KIRO-TV, is 22 miles away.

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

Compare indoor, attic and outdoor antenna types. Older TV without a digital tuner? See converter boxes.

All stations

Station data from the FCC, as of

21 stations reach Federal Way at a Strong or Moderate signal. Full-power and Class A stations are listed first, then low-power stations. 4 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 22 mi N Strong
5.1 KING-TV NBC source 22 mi N Strong
7.1 KIRO-TV CBS sourceEn español: 7.4 Telemundo 22 mi N Strong
9.1 VHF KCTS-TV PBS source 21 mi N Strong
11.1 VHF KSTW Independent source 21 mi N Strong
13.1 VHF KCPQ FOX source 27 mi NW Strong
16.1 KONG Independent source 22 mi N Strong
20.1 KTBW-TV TBN source 27 mi NW Strong
22.1 KZJO Independent / MyNetworkTV / FOX source 21 mi N Strong
28.1 KBTC-TV PBS source 8.5 mi WSW Strong
33.1 KWPX-TV Ion source 22 mi NE Strong
44.1 KFFV Univision sourceEn español: 44.1 Univision 21 mi N Strong
51.1 KUNS-TV The CW source 22 mi N Strong
56.1 KWDK Daystar sourceEn español: 56.2 Daystar Español 22 mi NE Strong
Low-power stations (7)
7.1 K18NI-D Translator CBS sourceEn español: 7.4 Telemundo 9.4 mi NNW Strong
7.1 K18NH-D Translator CBS sourceEn español: 7.4 Telemundo 10 mi SSE Strong
10.1 KQAH-LD PBS 22 mi N Strong
RF 6 Low VHF KYMU-LD Not listed 22 mi N Strong
RF 12 VHF KUSE-LD Not listed 22 mi NE Strong
RF 20 K20NF-D Not listed 22 mi N Strong
RF 32 KRUM-LD Not listed 22 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 Federal Way but within 60 miles. Reception depends on terrain and antenna height.

ChannelStationNetworkDistanceSignal
RF 8 VHF K08QY-D Translator Not listed 8.5 mi WSW Weak
RF 29 K29ED-D Not listed 47 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 Federal Way

Canales en español

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

ChannelNetworkStationSignal
7.4 Telemundo K18NH-D Strong
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 (359°). Rings at 5, 10 and 30 miles from central Federal Way; dots are Strong-signal towers.

5 mi 10 mi 30 mi N E S W Main towers KZJO +3 KBTC-TV KUSE-LD +2
  • KZJO, KUNS-TV, KOMO-TV and KING-TV and 8 other stations: 21 to 22 miles north
  • KBTC-TV: 8 miles west-southwest
  • KWPX-TV and 2 other stations: 22 miles northeast
  • KTBW-TV and 1 other station: 27 miles northwest
  • K18NI-D: 9 miles north-northwest

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.

More: how to aim a TV antenna, how to boost your antenna signal, attic antennas. Renting or in an HOA? FCC rules protect your right to an antenna in areas you control. Camping nearby? See the RV antenna guide.

NextGen TV in Federal Way

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

NextGen TV explained: tuners, encryption and the timeline

Federal Way antenna questions

What channel is CBS in Federal Way?

CBS is channel 7.1 (KIRO-TV) on an antenna in Federal Way. The tower is 22 miles north and the signal is rated Strong.

What channel is ABC in Federal Way?

ABC is channel 4.1 (KOMO-TV) on an antenna in Federal Way. The tower is 22 miles north and the signal is rated Strong.

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

NBC is 5.1 (KING-TV), FOX is 22.1 (KZJO), PBS is 28.1 (KBTC-TV) and The CW is 51.1 (KUNS-TV).

Which way should I point my antenna in Federal Way?

Point it north (359 degrees). The main network towers sit in 2 directions: ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and The CW are 21 to 22 miles north and PBS is about 8 miles west.

Do I need an outdoor antenna in Federal Way?

Probably not. The main network towers are within 23 miles of central Federal Way. 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.