Antenna TV channels in Alpena
2 stations broadcast free TV around Alpena, carrying 5 channels including Subchannel An extra channel a station sends alongside its main one, like 2.2 or 2.3. More in the glossary . The full-power stations transmit from several sites, so the direction to aim depends on where you live.
Updated from FCC data
How well antenna TV works around Alpena
For the big networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS) that reach each home, an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 3% of people in the Alpena market; about 97% need an attic or roof antenna. A typical home gets about 6 free channels from 3 stations, some from neighbouring markets.
Estimates from our terrain predictions for an antenna about 30 ft up, adjusted for indoor use. They are not yet checked against real channel scans; VHF channels never count as indoor. How we work it out
Each network's reach
| Network | Reaches | Indoor likely |
|---|---|---|
| ABC | 84% | 4% |
| CBS | 97% | 2% |
| NBC | 84% | 4% |
| FOX | 21% | 0% |
| PBS | 97% | 40% |
| The CW | 20% | 0% |
Share of the market's 104k people, across its 34 ZIP codes.
Town by town
| Town | Antenna | Point | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpena ZIP 49707 | Attic or outdoor | south (187°, most) | 5 |
| East Tawas ZIP 48730 | Attic or outdoor | north (355°, most) | 16 |
For the ZIP nearest each town's centre. Tap a town for its full channel list.
What channel is each network on in Alpena?
| Network | Channel | Station |
|---|---|---|
 CBS | 11.1 | WBKB-TV |
 NBC | 11.2 | WBKB-TV |
 ABC | 11.3 | WBKB-TV |
 PBS | 6.1 | WCML |
The best TV antenna for Alpena
Get an antenna rated for both VHF and UHF. Most homes here need a roof antenna, aimed; by our estimate an indoor one is likely enough for only about 3% of people.
- 4 channels reach ordinary TVs only on VHF (WBKB-TV), and many flat indoor antennas are weak on VHF.
- The towers are spread out, so a wide-beam (multi-directional) antenna is safer than a narrow directional one.
Not sure about VHF Lower frequencies (RF 2–13). Needs an antenna with longer elements; many flat indoor antennas are weak here. More in the glossary and UHF Higher frequencies (RF 14–36). Most stations are here; almost any antenna picks it up. More in the glossary ? See the glossary. Any brand of the right type will do.
Which way to point your antenna from East Tawas and nearby
Aim at the main tower site (WBKB-TV and others). From the largest towns around Alpena:
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| East Tawas, MI | north (356°) | 29 mi |
One full-power station transmits from elsewhere: WCML (43 mi away). If you live near one of them, it may need a separate aim.
Where the Alpena TV towers are
Map of 2 tower sites around Alpena. The list below has every site.
Every Alpena station and subchannel
Including Class A and low-power stations Smaller stations with a shorter range than full-power ones. More in the glossary stations.
Questions about antenna TV in Alpena
What channels are CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX on antenna in Alpena?
What local channels can I get with an antenna in Alpena?
What is the best TV antenna for Alpena?
Which way should I point my antenna in Alpena?
For the curious: tower and licence details
- WBKB-TV · facility 67048 · RF 11 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 20 kW · HAAT 201.8 m · licensed 2011-08-23
- WCML · facility 9917 · RF 24 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 400 kW · HAAT 399.5 m · licensed 2012-04-23
Where this comes from
- Stations, towers, channels and power: FCC Licensing and Management System (LMS) public database, data of .
- Networks and subchannels: our affiliations dataset, built from Wikipedia (used under CC BY-SA 4.0), the network field stations file with the FCC, and station websites; checked . Credits.
- Towns and distances: US Census Bureau: Vintage 2025 city population estimates (SUB-EST2025) and 2026 Gazetteer place coordinates; distances are straight-line from each town's Census centre point.
- Reception: Reception predictions over USGS terrain for every ZIP, FCC data 2026-11-03 00:00:00 (model 2026-11-11.4)
- Market area: Market area: counties assigned by FCC service-contour coverage of each market's full-power stations (FCC LMS market list, Census 2020).
Updated How we work this out