Antenna TV channels in Charleston SC
14 stations broadcast free TV around Charleston SC, carrying 29 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 Charleston SC
For the big networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS) that reach each home, an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 98% of people in the Charleston SC market; about 2% need an attic or roof antenna. A typical home gets about 27 free channels from 15 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+% | 99% |
| CBS | 99+% | 98% |
| NBC | 99+% | 99% |
| FOX | 99+% | 99% |
| PBS | 99+% | 99+% |
| The CW | 13% | 2% |
Share of the market's 920k people, across its 66 ZIP codes.
Town by town
| Town | Antenna | Point | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston ZIP 29409 | Indoor likely | east-northeast (58°) | 26 |
| North Charleston ZIP 29404 | Indoor likely | east (83°) | 27 |
| Mount Pleasant ZIP 29464 | Indoor likely | northeast (49°) | 26 |
| Summerville ZIP 29483 | Indoor likely | east (101°) | 40 |
| Goose Creek ZIP 29445 | Indoor likely | east-southeast (103°) | 27 |
| Hanahan ZIP 29410 | Indoor likely | east (89°) | 27 |
| Moncks Corner ZIP 29461 | Indoor likely | southeast (126°) | 35 |
| James Island ZIP 29412 | Indoor likely | northeast (47°) | 26 |
| Georgetown ZIP 29440 | Indoor likely | southwest (216°, most) | 60 |
| Hollywood ZIP 29449 | Indoor likely | east-northeast (66°) | 26 |
| Walterboro ZIP 29488 | Indoor likely | east (88°, most) | 52 |
| Isle of Palms ZIP 29451 | Indoor likely | north-northeast (22°) | 26 |
| Kingstree ZIP 29556 | Indoor likely | south (172°, most) | 81 |
| Ravenel ZIP 29470 | Indoor likely | east-northeast (72°) | 26 |
| Andrews ZIP 29510 | Indoor likely | south-southwest (193°) | 72 |
For the ZIP nearest each town's centre. Tap a town for its full channel list.
What channel is each network on in Charleston SC?
| Network | Channel | Station |
|---|---|---|
 CBS | 5.1 | WCSC-TV |
 NBC | 2.1 | WCBD-TV |
 ABC | 36.2 | WCIV |
 FOX | 24.1 | WTAT-TV |
 PBS | 7.1 | WITV |
 MyNetworkTV | 36.1 | WCIV |
The best TV antenna for Charleston SC
Get a UHF antenna. Across most of the area an indoor antenna is likely enough (about 98% of people, by our estimate); farther out, use an attic or roof antenna.
- Every channel reaches ordinary TVs on UHF, so a UHF antenna is enough.
- 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 North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Goose Creek and nearby
Aim at the main tower site (WGWG, WITV, WCSC-TV and others). From the largest towns around Charleston SC:
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| North Charleston, SC | east (88°) | 21 mi |
| Mount Pleasant, SC | northeast (49°) | 13 mi |
| Goose Creek, SC | east-southeast (105°) | 19 mi |
| James Island, SC | northeast (47°) | 19 mi |
| Georgetown, SC | southwest (218°) | 39 mi |
| Hollywood, SC | east-northeast (68°) | 32 mi |
3 full-power stations transmit from elsewhere: WTAT-TV (1 mi away), WCIV (1 mi away), WCBD-TV (1 mi away). If you live near one of them, it may need a separate aim.
Where the Charleston SC TV towers are
Map of 6 tower sites around Charleston SC. The list below has every site.
-
4 stations · 17 mi east-northeast of the centre
-
3 stations · 18 mi east-northeast of the centre
-
2 stations · in the centre
-
2 stations · 8 mi east of the centre
-
2 stations · 10 mi northwest of the centre
1 more single low-power sites
NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) in Charleston SC
One station (WGWG) now sends 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 .
WGWG sends NextGen TV on RF 34
- 4.1 MeTV: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 4.2 network unknown: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 4.3 network unknown: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 4.4 network unknown: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 4.5 network unknown: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
Every Charleston SC 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. 4 subchannels have no confirmed network; we show them as "network unknown" rather than guess.
Full power (6)
- WCBD-TV Charleston, SC · UHF
- 2.1 NBC
- 2.2 The CW Plus
- 2.3 Ion
- 2.4 Laff
- WGWG Charleston, SC · UHF · NextGen TV
- 4.1 MeTV
- 4.2 network unknown
- 4.3 network unknown
- 4.4 network unknown
- 4.5 network unknown
- WCSC-TV Charleston, SC · UHF
- 5.1 CBS
- 5.2 Bounce TV
- 5.3 Palmetto Sports & Entertainment
- 5.4 Grit
- 5.5 Quest
- 5.6 Ion Mystery
- 5.7 365BLK
- WITV Charleston, SC · UHF
- 7.1 PBS (SCETV)
- WTAT-TV Charleston, SC · UHF
- 24.1 Fox
- 24.2 True Crime Network
- 24.3 Comet
- 24.4 Charge
- 24.5 Roar
- WCIV Charleston, SC · UHF
- 36.1 MyNetworkTV
- 36.2 ABC
Class A (1)
- WLCN-CD Charleston, SC · UHF
- 18.1 CTN
- 18.2 CTN Lifestyle
- 18.3 CTN International
- 18.4 Newsmax2
- 18.5 Biz TV
Low power (7)
- W15ES-D Georgetown, SC · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WAZS-LD North Charleston, SC · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WBSE-LD Charleston, SC · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WHDC-LD Charleston, SC · VHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WJNI-LD North Charleston, SC · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WLOW-LD Charleston, SC · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WZCH-LD Charleston, SC · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
Questions about antenna TV in Charleston SC
What channels are CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX on antenna in Charleston SC?
What local channels can I get with an antenna in Charleston SC?
What is the best TV antenna for Charleston SC?
Which way should I point my antenna in Charleston SC?
Do I need a new TV for NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) in Charleston SC?
For the curious: tower and licence details
- WBSE-LD · facility 67969 · 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 2019-12-16
- WLOW-LD · facility 190344 · RF 30 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2026-08-10
- WHDC-LD · facility 10548 · RF 12 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1.9 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2019-08-27
- WLCN-CD · facility 55203 · 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 2023-08-28
- WAZS-LD · facility 168038 · RF 22 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2025-01-14
- WJNI-LD · facility 168039 · RF 36 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2025-01-17
- WGWG · facility 21536 · RF 34 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 630 kW · HAAT 522 m · licensed 2024-10-03
- WITV · facility 61005 · RF 24 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 561.8 m · licensed 2020-07-24
- WCSC-TV · facility 71297 · RF 19 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 625 kW · HAAT 521 m · licensed 2022-03-09
- WZCH-LD · facility 185603 · RF 35 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2025-04-02
- WTAT-TV · facility 416 · RF 17 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 450 kW · HAAT 599.4 m · licensed 2022-03-09
- WCIV · facility 9015 · RF 25 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 583.3 m · licensed 2022-03-09
- WCBD-TV · facility 10587 · RF 20 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 779 kW · HAAT 581 m · licensed 2022-03-09
- W15ES-D · facility 185605 · RF 15 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2024-01-12
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