Antenna TV channels in Champaign and Springfield-Decatur
21 stations broadcast free TV around Champaign and Springfield-Decatur, carrying 41 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 Champaign and Springfield-Decatur
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 Champaign and Springfield-Decatur market; about 97% need an attic or roof antenna. A typical home gets about 40 free channels from 14 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 | 99% | 88% |
| CBS | 98% | 55% |
| NBC | 99+% | 74% |
| FOX | 99% | 91% |
| PBS | 99+% | 32% |
| The CW | 96% | 67% |
| Univision | <1% | 0% |
| Telemundo | 2% | 0% |
Share of the market's 1,257k people, across its 348 ZIP codes.
Town by town
| Town | Antenna | Point | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield ZIP 62701 | Attic or outdoor | east (88°, most) | 46 |
| Champaign ZIP 61821 | Attic or outdoor | west (259°, most) | 34 |
| Bloomington ZIP 61701 | Attic or outdoor | west-northwest (298°, most) | 44 |
| Decatur ZIP 62523 | Attic or outdoor | northeast (48°, most) | 52 |
| Normal ZIP 61761 | Attic or outdoor | west-northwest (291°, most) | 44 |
| Urbana ZIP 61802 | Attic or outdoor | west (260°, most) | 31 |
| Danville ZIP 61832 | Roof | west (259°) | 34 |
| Jacksonville ZIP 62650 | Roof | east (82°, most) | 30 |
| Charleston ZIP 61920 | Attic or outdoor | north-northeast (19°, most) | 45 |
| Mattoon ZIP 61938 | Attic or outdoor | north-northeast (31°, most) | 45 |
| Chatham ZIP 62629 | Attic or outdoor | east-northeast (57°, most) | 41 |
| Lincoln ZIP 62656 | Attic or outdoor | south-southwest (192°, most) | 53 |
| Effingham ZIP 62401 | Roof | northwest (315°, most) | 38 |
| Rantoul ZIP 61866 | Attic or outdoor | southwest (234°, most) | 34 |
| Pontiac ZIP 61764 | Roof | west-southwest (249°) | 39 |
For the ZIP nearest each town's centre. Tap a town for its full channel list.
What channel is each network on in Champaign and Springfield-Decatur?
| Network | Channel | Station |
|---|---|---|
 CBS | 3.1 also 49.2 | WCIA |
 NBC | 17.1 | WAND |
 ABC | 15.1 also 20.1 | WICD |
 FOX | 27.1 also 55.1 | WCCU |
 PBS | 12.1 also 14.1 | WILL-TV |
 The CW | 23.1 | WBUI |
 MyNetworkTV | 49.1 | WCIX |
The best TV antenna for Champaign and Springfield-Decatur
Get an antenna rated for both VHF and UHF. For most homes an attic or outdoor antenna is the safe choice; by our estimate an indoor one is likely enough for only about 3% of people.
- 8 channels reach ordinary TVs only on VHF (WILL-TV, WCIX), 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 Champaign, Bloomington, Jacksonville and nearby
Aim at the main tower site ( and others). From the largest towns around Champaign and Springfield-Decatur:
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign, IL | west-southwest (255°) | 75 mi |
| Bloomington, IL | southwest (218°) | 57 mi |
| Jacksonville, IL | east-northeast (78°) | 32 mi |
| Chatham, IL | north-northeast (16°) | 11 mi |
| Effingham, IL | northwest (310°) | 76 mi |
| Sherman, IL | south-southwest (201°) | 4 mi |
10 full-power stations transmit from elsewhere: WCIX (7 mi away), WICS (9 mi away), WRSP-TV (9 mi away), WSEC (27 mi away), WBUI (43 mi away), WAND (44 mi away), WILL-TV (53 mi away), WCIA (66 mi away), WICD (93 mi away), WCCU (93 mi away). If you live near one of them, it may need a separate aim.
Where the Champaign and Springfield-Decatur TV towers are
Map of 17 tower sites around Champaign and Springfield-Decatur. The list below has every site.
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2 stations · 2 mi north of the centre
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2 stations · 10 mi east of the centre
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2 stations · 25 mi west-southwest of the centre
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2 stations · 94 mi east-northeast of the centre
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1 station · 7 mi east of the centre
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1 station · 44 mi east-northeast of the centre
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1 station · 44 mi east-northeast of the centre
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1 station · 54 mi east-northeast of the centre
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1 station · 67 mi east-northeast of the centre
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1 station · 77 mi east-northeast of the centre
NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) in Champaign and Springfield-Decatur
2 stations (WRSP-TV, WCCU) now send the newer NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) A newer broadcast format. Older TVs can't decode it, so stations also send the old format from a partner station. More in the glossary format. Older TVs can't decode it, so stations share: each channel that moved is also sent in the old format by a partner station (a Lighthouse (channel sharing) One station switches to NextGen TV and carries other stations' 3.0 versions; partners carry its old-format version. More in the glossary arrangement). Your TV shows the same number; at most you need a Rescan Asking your TV to search for channels again. Fixes most missing channels. More in the glossary .
WRSP-TV sends NextGen TV on RF 16
WCCU sends NextGen TV on RF 36
- 27.1 Fox: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
Every Champaign and Springfield-Decatur 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. 1 subchannels have no confirmed network; we show them as "network unknown" rather than guess.
Full power (10)
- WCIA Champaign, IL · UHF
- 3.1 CBS
- 3.2 network unknown
- 3.3 Bounce TV
- 3.4 Grit
Its signal also carries 27.2 for partner stations.
- WILL-TV Urbana, IL · VHF
- 12.1 PBS
- 12.2 PBS Kids
- 12.3 Create
- WSEC Jacksonville, IL · UHF
- 14.1 PBS
- 14.2 World and other programming
- 14.3 Create
- 14.4 PBS Kids
- WICD Champaign, IL · UHF
- 15.1 ABC
- WAND Decatur, IL · UHF
- 17.1 NBC
- 17.2 Cozi TV
- 17.3 Ion
- 17.4 Ion Plus
- 17.5 Court TV
- 17.6 MeTV
Its signal also carries 55.3 for partner stations.
- WICS Springfield, IL · UHF
- 20.1 ABC
- 20.2 Comet
- 20.3 Roar
- 20.4 Charge!
Its signal also carries 55.1 for partner stations.
- WBUI Decatur, IL · UHF
- 23.1 The CW
- 23.2 Dabl
- 23.3 The Nest
- 23.4 Rewind TV
Its signal also carries 27.3 for partner stations.
- WCCU Urbana, IL · UHF · NextGen TV
- 27.1 Fox
- 27.2 MeTV · on WCIA's signal
- 27.3 Antenna TV · on WBUI's signal
- WCIX Springfield, IL · VHF
- 49.1 MyNetworkTV
- 49.2 CBS
- 49.3 Ion Mystery
- 49.4 Laff
Its signal also carries 55.2 for partner stations.
- WRSP-TV Springfield, IL · UHF · NextGen TV
- 55.1 Fox · on WICS's signal
- 55.2 True Crime Network · on WCIX's signal
- 55.3 Antenna TV · on WAND's signal
Class A (1)
- WBXC-CD Champaign/Urbana, IL · UHF
- 18.1 Heartland
- 18.2 Sonlife
- 18.3 Outlaw
- 18.4 Buzzr
- 18.5 365BLK
Low power (8)
- W07DD-D Champaign, IL · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- W23EW-D Springfield, IL · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- W27EL-D Champaign, IL · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- W31EH-D Springfield, IL · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WCQA-LD Springfield, IL · VHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WEAE-LD Springfield, IL · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WLCF-LD Decatur, IL · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WXSG-LD Springfield, IL · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
Questions about antenna TV in Champaign and Springfield-Decatur
What channels are CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX on antenna in Champaign and Springfield-Decatur?
What local channels can I get with an antenna in Champaign and Springfield-Decatur?
What is the best TV antenna for Champaign and Springfield-Decatur?
Which way should I point my antenna in Champaign and Springfield-Decatur?
Do I need a new TV for NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) in Champaign and Springfield-Decatur?
For the curious: tower and licence details
- WEAE-LD · facility 181983 · RF 21 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2022-02-02
- WXSG-LD · facility 188752 · RF 27 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 5.6 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2022-01-28
- W31EH-D · facility 49183 · RF 31 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 0.1 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2025-06-05 · newer construction permit granted
- W23EW-D · facility 181987 · RF 23 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2020-05-20
- WCIX · facility 42116 · RF 11 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 8.5 kW · HAAT 175.5 m · licensed 2025-03-28
- WICS · facility 25686 · RF 15 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 300 kW · HAAT 436 m · licensed 2022-11-29
- WRSP-TV · facility 62009 · RF 16 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 310 kW · HAAT 436 m · licensed 2024-07-26
- WSEC · facility 70536 · RF 18 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 93.5 kW · HAAT 292.3 m · licensed 2021-06-25
- W29ES-D · facility 182815 · RF 29 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2021-07-06
- WCQA-LD · facility 181971 · RF 12 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 3 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2021-07-30 · newer construction permit granted
- WLCF-LD · facility 37482 · RF 17 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2020-09-10
- WBUI · facility 16363 · RF 22 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 325 kW · HAAT 401 m · licensed 2022-11-28
- WAND · facility 70852 · RF 20 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 390.5 m · licensed 2022-11-28
- WILL-TV · facility 68939 · RF 9 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 30 kW · HAAT 302 m · licensed 2006-05-05
- WCIA · facility 42124 · RF 34 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 681 kW · HAAT 285.1 m · licensed 2022-11-28
- W07DD-D · facility 67011 · RF 26 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 0.1 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2025-06-16 · newer construction permit granted
- W33EK-D · facility 182814 · RF 33 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2020-01-24
- WBXC-CD · facility 70428 · RF 18 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2020-04-15
- W27EL-D · facility 49185 · RF 27 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2021-01-26
- WICD · facility 25684 · RF 32 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 396 m · licensed 2022-11-29
- WCCU · facility 69544 · RF 36 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 125 kW · HAAT 381 m · licensed 2024-07-26
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