What channel is The CW on antenna in Chicago?
The CW is channel 9.1 (WGN-TV).
It broadcasts on RF 19 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.
Our terrain predictions put The CW on WGN-TV within antenna reach of about 100% of people in the Chicago market, and an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 96% (an estimate, not yet checked against real scans). Check your ZIP.
Updated from FCC data
Lost The CW? 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 The CW still doesn't appear, the antenna needs to point toward the WGN-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 The CW 9.1 comes from
-
Works on any digital TV
WGN-TV RF 19 · UHF
WGN-TV's own transmitter.
Which way to point for The CW around Chicago
Aim at the WGN-TV tower , at the main tower site with most other stations.
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora, IL | east-northeast (76°) | 35 mi |
| Joliet, IL | northeast (46°) | 36 mi |
| Elgin, IL | east-southeast (107°) | 37 mi |
| Waukegan, IL | south-southeast (160°) | 36 mi |
| Hammond, IN | north-northwest (338°) | 19 mi |
| Oak Lawn, IL | north-northeast (28°) | 13 mi |
The antenna you need for The CW in Chicago
The CW 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 Chicago · VHF Lower frequencies (RF 2–13). Needs an antenna with longer elements; many flat indoor antennas are weak here. More in the glossary
More free channels from WGN-TV
- 9.2 Antenna TV
- 9.3 Grit
- 9.4 Rewind TV
- 9.5 The Nest
Other networks in Chicago
Questions about The CW in Chicago
What channel is The CW on antenna in Chicago?
Why did The CW 9.1 disappear from my TV?
What antenna do I need for The CW in Chicago?
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