Kirkland, WA antenna channel guide

Kirkland viewers can pick up 15 full-power and Class A stations with an indoor antenna, plus their subchannels and 5 low-power stations. The main network towers stand 7 to 8 miles southwest of central Kirkland.

Free channels
16
Miles to main towers
9
Aim direction
SW

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

Main networks in Kirkland

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

ABC

4.1

KOMO-TV · 8.3 mi WSW

Strong

CBS

7.1

KIRO-TV · 8.4 mi WSW

Strong

NBC

5.1

KING-TV · 8.2 mi WSW

Strong

FOX

22.1

KZJO · 7.4 mi SW

Strong

PBS

28.1

KBTC-TV · 7.4 mi SW

Strong

The CW

51.1

KUNS-TV · 8.3 mi WSW

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?

K29ED-D (RF channel 29), K18NI-D (channel 7.1), K08QY-D (RF channel 8), plus 1 more, are weak in Kirkland; they may come and go. If a weak station is the one you're missing, these steps can help.

Recommended for Kirkland

An indoor antenna should work in Kirkland

Antenna type: 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 9 miles
  • The main towers sit southwest, so one aim works

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 8 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

20 stations reach Kirkland 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 8.3 mi WSW Strong
5.1 KING-TV NBC source 8.2 mi WSW Strong
7.1 KIRO-TV CBS sourceEn español: 7.4 Telemundo 8.4 mi WSW Strong
9.1 VHF KCTS-TV PBS source 7.4 mi SW Strong
11.1 VHF KSTW Independent source 7.5 mi SW Strong
12.1 KVOS-TV Univision sourceEn español: 12.1 Univision 74 mi NNW Moderate
13.1 VHF KCPQ FOX source 30 mi WSW Strong
16.1 KONG Independent source 8.2 mi WSW Strong
20.1 KTBW-TV TBN source 29 mi WSW Strong
22.1 KZJO Independent / MyNetworkTV / FOX source 7.4 mi SW Strong
28.1 KBTC-TV PBS source 7.4 mi SW Strong
33.1 KWPX-TV Ion source 17 mi SE Strong
44.1 KFFV Univision sourceEn español: 44.1 Univision 7.5 mi SW Strong
51.1 KUNS-TV The CW source 8.3 mi WSW Strong
56.1 KWDK Daystar sourceEn español: 56.2 Daystar Español 17 mi SE Strong
Low-power stations (5)
10.1 KQAH-LD PBS 8.4 mi WSW Strong
RF 6 Low VHF KYMU-LD Not listed 8.4 mi WSW Strong
RF 12 VHF KUSE-LD Not listed 17 mi SE Strong
RF 20 K20NF-D Not listed 8.2 mi WSW Strong
RF 32 KRUM-LD Not listed 8.2 mi WSW 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: 4 more stations that may need an outdoor antenna

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

ChannelStationNetworkDistanceSignal
7.1 K18NI-D Translator CBS source 22 mi SSW Weak
7.1 K18NH-D Translator CBS source 36 mi S Weak
RF 8 VHF K08QY-D Translator Not listed 32 mi SSW Weak
RF 29 K29ED-D Not listed 20 mi N Weak

Extra channels you also get

Stations above also broadcast these 47 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
  • 12.2Movies!
  • 12.4Catchy Comedy
  • 12.5Start TV
  • 12.6MeTV+
  • 12.7Story Television
  • 12.9MeTV Toons
  • 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 Kirkland

Canales en español

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

ChannelNetworkStationSignal
7.4 Telemundo KIRO-TV Strong
12.1 Univision KVOS-TV Moderate
44.1 Univision KFFV Strong
56.2 Daystar Español KWDK Strong

Where to point your antenna

Aim southwest (223°). Rings at 5, 10 and 30 miles from central Kirkland; dots are Strong-signal towers.

5 mi 10 mi 30 mi N E S W Main towers KBTC-TV +4 KUSE-LD +2 KTBW-TV +1
  • KING-TV, KUNS-TV, KOMO-TV and KIRO-TV and 7 other stations: 8 to 30 miles west-southwest
  • KBTC-TV and KZJO and 3 other stations: 7 to 8 miles southwest
  • KWPX-TV and 2 other stations: 17 miles southeast

Placement and interference tips

  • Place the antenna on a southwest-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 Kirkland

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

Kirkland antenna questions

What channel is CBS in Kirkland?

CBS is channel 7.1 (KIRO-TV) on an antenna in Kirkland. The tower is 8.4 miles west-southwest and the signal is rated Strong.

What channel is ABC in Kirkland?

ABC is channel 4.1 (KOMO-TV) on an antenna in Kirkland. The tower is 8.3 miles west-southwest and the signal is rated Strong.

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

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 Kirkland?

Point it southwest (223 degrees). The main network towers are 7 to 8 miles southwest of central Kirkland.

Do I need an outdoor antenna in Kirkland?

Probably not. The main network towers are within 9 miles of central Kirkland. 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.