Antenna Channel Guide
Tacoma, WA antenna channels
FCC station data as of November 6, 2026. Signal ratings are estimates without terrain.
| Channel | Network | Call sign | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | ABC | KOMO-TV | Strong |
| 5.1 | NBC | KING-TV | Strong |
| 7.1 | CBS | KIRO-TV | Strong |
| 9.1 | PBS | KCTS-TV | Strong |
| 11.1 | Independent | KSTW | Strong |
| 13.1 | FOX | KCPQ | Strong |
| 16.1 | Independent | KONG | Strong |
| 20.1 | TBN | KTBW-TV | Strong |
| 22.1 | Independent / MyNetworkTV / FOX | KZJO | Strong |
| 28.1 | PBS | KBTC-TV | Strong |
| 33.1 | Ion | KWPX-TV | Strong |
| 44.1 | Univision | KFFV | Strong |
| 51.1 | The CW | KUNS-TV | Strong |
| 56.1 | Daystar | KWDK | Strong |
| Low-power stations | |||
| 7.1 | CBS | K18NH-D | Strong |
| 7.1 | CBS | K18NI-D | Strong |
| 10.1 | PBS | KQAH-LD | Strong |
| RF 6 | Not listed | KYMU-LD | Strong |
| RF 12 | Not listed | KUSE-LD | Strong |
| RF 20 | Not listed | K20NF-D | Strong |
| RF 32 | Not listed | KRUM-LD | Strong |
| Weak signals (may need an outdoor antenna) | |||
| 13.1 | FOX | K17NX-D | Weak |
| 15.1 | Not listed | KCKA | Weak |
| RF 8 | Not listed | K08QY-D | Weak |
| RF 15 | Not listed | K15MI-D | Weak |
| RF 29 | Not listed | K29ED-D | Weak |
Channel missing? Rescan your TV. Updated list: antennachannelguide.com/wa/tacoma/
Tacoma, WA antenna channel guide
Tacoma viewers can receive 14 full-power and Class A stations, plus their subchannels and 7 low-power stations, but most need an attic or outdoor antenna to get them all. The main network towers sit in 2 directions: ABC, CBS, NBC and The CW are about 27 miles north and FOX and PBS are 3 to 26 miles northwest.
- Free channels
- 17
- Miles to main towers
- 27
- Aim direction
- NNE
FCC data, Nov 6, 2026 · Signal tiers estimated without terrain
Check the signal where you are
Get the channels, antenna type and aim direction for your exact spot instead of the city center. Your browser will ask for your location. It's used only on this page to do the math, and this site never sends it anywhere or saves it.
Main networks in Tacoma
All six main networks reach Tacoma over the air. Tune to these channels after a scan.
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
- Open your TV's settings.
- Find the channel, broadcast or antenna section.
- 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?
KCKA (channel 15.1), K08QY-D (RF channel 8), K29ED-D (RF channel 29), plus 2 more, are weak in Tacoma; 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 Tacoma station for you.
Recommended for Tacoma
Plan on an attic or outdoor antenna in Tacoma
Antenna type: Attic or outdoor, with VHF reception.
KCPQ (FOX, channel 13.1) broadcasts on VHF, so choose an antenna rated for VHF as well as UHF.
- The farthest main network, CBS (KIRO-TV), is 27 miles away
- Towers are spread 174 degrees apart, so a multi-directional model helps
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 27 miles away.
Splitting the signal to more TVs weakens it at each one. One antenna, several TVs
Compare indoor, attic and outdoor antenna types, and read the outdoor antenna safety overview before you go on the roof. Older TV without a digital tuner? See converter boxes.
All stations
Station data from the FCC, as of
21 stations reach Tacoma 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.
| Channel | Station | Network | Distance | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | KOMO-TV | ABC source | 27 mi N | Strong |
| 5.1 | KING-TV | NBC source | 27 mi N | Strong |
| 7.1 | KIRO-TV | CBS sourceEn español: 7.4 Telemundo | 27 mi N | Strong |
| 9.1 VHF | KCTS-TV | PBS source | 26 mi NNE | Strong |
| 11.1 VHF | KSTW | Independent source | 26 mi NNE | Strong |
| 13.1 VHF | KCPQ | FOX source | 26 mi NW | Strong |
| 16.1 | KONG | Independent source | 27 mi N | Strong |
| 20.1 | KTBW-TV | TBN source | 26 mi NW | Strong |
| 22.1 | KZJO | Independent / MyNetworkTV / FOX source | 26 mi NNE | Strong |
| 28.1 | KBTC-TV | PBS source | 3.1 mi NW | Strong |
| 33.1 | KWPX-TV | Ion source | 29 mi NE | Strong |
| 44.1 | KFFV | Univision sourceEn español: 44.1 Univision | 26 mi NNE | Strong |
| 51.1 | KUNS-TV | The CW source | 27 mi N | Strong |
| 56.1 | KWDK | Daystar sourceEn español: 56.2 Daystar Español | 29 mi NE | Strong |
| Low-power stations (7) | ||||
| 7.1 | K18NH-D Translator | CBS sourceEn español: 7.4 Telemundo | 11 mi ESE | Strong |
| 7.1 | K18NI-D Translator | CBS sourceEn español: 7.4 Telemundo | 12 mi N | Strong |
| 10.1 | KQAH-LD | PBS | 27 mi N | Strong |
| RF 6 Low VHF | KYMU-LD | Not listed | 27 mi N | Strong |
| RF 12 VHF | KUSE-LD | Not listed | 29 mi NE | Strong |
| RF 20 | K20NF-D | Not listed | 27 mi N | Strong |
| RF 32 | KRUM-LD | Not listed | 27 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: 5 more stations that may need an outdoor antenna
These towers are outside the FCC coverage area for Tacoma but within 60 miles. Reception depends on terrain and antenna height.
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 Tacoma
Canales en español
5 Spanish-language channels reach Tacoma at a Strong or Moderate signal. They come with the same antenna after a channel scan.
Where to point your antenna
Aim north-northeast (13°). Rings at 5, 10 and 30 miles from central Tacoma; dots are Strong-signal towers.
- KUNS-TV, KOMO-TV, KING-TV and KIRO-TV and 10 other stations: 12 to 27 miles north-northeast
- KCPQ and 1 other station: 26 miles northwest
- KBTC-TV: 3 miles northwest
- KWPX-TV and 2 other stations: 29 miles northeast
- K18NH-D: 11 miles east-southeast
Placement and interference tips
- Place the antenna on a north-northeast-facing window or wall. Higher is better.
- The farthest main network tower is 27 miles away, so an attic or outdoor antenna will do better than one inside the living space. Attic antenna guide
- 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. 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 Tacoma
NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) is on the air in Tacoma, 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).
Tacoma antenna questions
What channel is CBS in Tacoma?
CBS is channel 7.1 (KIRO-TV) on an antenna in Tacoma. The tower is 27 miles north and the signal is rated Strong.
What channel is ABC in Tacoma?
ABC is channel 4.1 (KOMO-TV) on an antenna in Tacoma. The tower is 27 miles north and the signal is rated Strong.
What channels are NBC, FOX, PBS and The CW in Tacoma?
NBC is 5.1 (KING-TV), FOX is 13.1 (KCPQ), PBS is 28.1 (KBTC-TV) and The CW is 51.1 (KUNS-TV).
Which way should I point my antenna in Tacoma?
Point it north-northeast (13 degrees). The main network towers sit in 2 directions: ABC, CBS, NBC and The CW are about 27 miles north and FOX and PBS are 3 to 26 miles northwest. Towers are spread 174 degrees apart, so a multi-directional antenna is the safer choice.
Do I need an outdoor antenna in Tacoma?
Most homes should plan on one. The farthest main network tower is 27 miles from central Tacoma. An attic antenna can work if the roof isn't metal.
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.