Skip to content
NBC logo

What channel is NBC on antenna in Cincinnati?

NBC is channel 5.1 (WLWT).

It broadcasts on RF 20 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.

Our terrain predictions put NBC on WLWT within antenna reach of about 96% of people in the Cincinnati market, and an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 94% (an estimate, not yet checked against real scans). Check your ZIP.

Updated from FCC data

Lost NBC? 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 NBC still doesn't appear, the antenna needs to point toward the WLWT tower and handle UHF Higher frequencies (RF 14–36). Most stations are here; almost any antenna picks it up. More in the glossary .

Where NBC 5.1 comes from

  • Works on any digital TV

    WLWT RF 20 · UHF

    WLWT's own transmitter.

Which way to point for NBC around Cincinnati

Aim at the WLWT tower , at the main tower site with most other stations.

FromPointDistance
Hamilton, OH south (173°) 19 mi
Covington, KY north (359°) 6 mi
Florence, KY northeast (37°) 11 mi
Oxford, OH south-southeast (156°) 29 mi
Sharonville, OH south-southwest (210°) 12 mi
Alexandria, KY northwest (326°) 13 mi
Cheviot, OH east-southeast (115°) 5 mi
Milford, OH west-southwest (257°) 13 mi
Get the exact direction for your address

The antenna you need for NBC in Cincinnati

NBC 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 Cincinnati · 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 WLWT

  • 5.2 MeTV
  • 5.4 Story Television
  • 5.5 Great

Other networks in Cincinnati

All 34 antenna channels in Cincinnati

Questions about NBC in Cincinnati

What channel is NBC on antenna in Cincinnati?
NBC is channel 5.1 (WLWT) in Cincinnati. It broadcasts on RF 20 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.
Why did NBC 5.1 disappear from my TV?
Run a channel rescan first. If it is still missing, check that your antenna points toward the WLWT tower and that it handles UHF.
What antenna do I need for NBC in Cincinnati?
Any antenna that receives UHF, aimed at the WLWT tower. Height matters more than brand: indoor close in, attic or roof farther out.

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