What channel is ABC on antenna in Boston (Manchester)?
ABC is channel 5.1 (WCVB-TV).
It broadcasts on RF 33 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.
Our terrain predictions put ABC on WCVB-TV within antenna reach of about 89% of people in the Boston (Manchester) market, and an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 76% (an estimate, not yet checked against real scans). Check your ZIP.
Updated from FCC data
Lost ABC? Rescan your TV first
Most missing channels come back after a Rescan Asking your TV to search for channels again. Fixes most missing channels. More in the glossary . If ABC still doesn't appear, the antenna needs to point toward the WCVB-TV tower and handle UHF Higher frequencies (RF 14–36). Most stations are here; almost any antenna picks it up. More in the glossary .
Where ABC 5.1 comes from
-
Works on any digital TV
WCVB-TV RF 33 · UHF
WCVB-TV's own transmitter.
Which way to point for ABC around Boston (Manchester)
Aim at the WCVB-TV tower , at the main tower site with most other stations.
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | east (84°) | 29 mi |
| Cambridge, MA | southwest (233°) | 8 mi |
| Brockton, MA | northwest (326°) | 19 mi |
| Lynn, MA | southwest (231°) | 18 mi |
| Salem, MA | southwest (233°) | 22 mi |
| Franklin Town, MA | north-northeast (30°) | 18 mi |
The antenna you need for ABC in Boston (Manchester)
ABC reaches ordinary TVs on UHF, so any antenna that picks up UHF will do. Close to the towers an indoor antenna by a window often works; farther out, height matters most: attic beats window, roof beats attic.
The best antenna for all of Boston (Manchester) · VHF Lower frequencies (RF 2–13). Needs an antenna with longer elements; many flat indoor antennas are weak here. More in the glossary
If 5.1 doesn't come in
ABC is also on:
- 9.1 WMUR-TV
More free channels from WCVB-TV
- 5.2 MeTV
- 5.3 Story Television
- 5.4 365BLK
Other networks in Boston (Manchester)
Questions about ABC in Boston (Manchester)
What channel is ABC on antenna in Boston (Manchester)?
Why did ABC 5.1 disappear from my TV?
What antenna do I need for ABC in Boston (Manchester)?
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.
- 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