Antenna TV channels in Columbia SC
11 stations broadcast free TV around Columbia SC, carrying 42 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 Columbia SC
For the big networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS) that reach each home, an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 1% of people in the Columbia SC market; about 99% need an attic or roof antenna. A typical home gets about 45 free channels from 11 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+% | 9% |
| CBS | 99+% | 95% |
| NBC | 99+% | 1% |
| FOX | 99+% | 95% |
| PBS | 99+% | 91% |
| The CW | 99+% | 2% |
| Telemundo | <1% | 0% |
Share of the market's 1,099k people, across its 91 ZIP codes.
Town by town
| Town | Antenna | Point | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia ZIP 29207 | Attic or outdoor | northeast (55°, most) | 46 |
| Sumter ZIP 29150 | Attic or outdoor | west-northwest (300°, most) | 82 |
| Lexington ZIP 29072 | Attic or outdoor | east-northeast (71°) | 45 |
| West Columbia ZIP 29169 | Attic or outdoor | east-northeast (62°) | 42 |
| Cayce ZIP 29033 | Attic or outdoor | northeast (54°) | 46 |
| Orangeburg ZIP 29115 | Attic or outdoor | north (8°, most) | 64 |
| Irmo ZIP 29063 | Attic or outdoor | east (91°) | 41 |
| Newberry ZIP 29108 | Attic or outdoor | northwest (316°, most) | 56 |
| Forest Acres ZIP 29206 | Attic or outdoor | east-northeast (63°, most) | 42 |
| Camden ZIP 29020 | Attic or outdoor | southwest (228°) | 42 |
| Blythewood ZIP 29016 | Attic or outdoor | east-southeast (113°, most) | 46 |
| Batesburg-Leesville ZIP 29006 | Attic or outdoor | south-southwest (207°, most) | 58 |
| Manning ZIP 29102 | Attic or outdoor | northwest (315°, most) | 73 |
| Winnsboro ZIP 29180 | Attic or outdoor | southeast (135°) | 45 |
| Saluda ZIP 29138 | Attic or outdoor | south (185°, most) | 59 |
For the ZIP nearest each town's centre. Tap a town for its full channel list.
What channel is each network on in Columbia SC?
| Network | Channel | Station |
|---|---|---|
 CBS | 19.1 | WLTX |
 NBC | 10.1 | WIS |
 ABC | 25.1 | WOLO-TV |
 FOX | 57.1 | WACH |
 PBS | 27.1 also 35.1 | WRJA-TV |
 The CW | 10.2 | WIS |
 MyNetworkTV | 63.1 | WKTC |
 ION | 47.1 | WZRB |
The best TV antenna for Columbia SC
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 1% of people.
- 12 channels reach ordinary TVs only on VHF (WIS, WOLO-TV), 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 Sumter, Lexington, Cayce and nearby
Aim at the main tower site (WACH, WKTC, WOLO-TV and others). From the largest towns around Columbia SC:
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Sumter, SC | west-northwest (300°) | 24 mi |
| Lexington, SC | east-northeast (72°) | 28 mi |
| Cayce, SC | northeast (54°) | 20 mi |
| Orangeburg, SC | north (8°) | 43 mi |
| Newberry, SC | east-southeast (103°) | 49 mi |
| Camden, SC | southwest (222°) | 13 mi |
| Manning, SC | northwest (313°) | 43 mi |
5 full-power stations transmit from elsewhere: WZRB (14 mi away), WRLK-TV (10 mi away), WLTX (1 mi away), WIS (1 mi away), WRJA-TV (33 mi away). If you live near one of them, it may need a separate aim.
Where the Columbia SC TV towers are
Map of 7 tower sites around Columbia SC. The list below has every site.
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4 stations · 9 mi northeast of the centre
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2 stations · 10 mi northeast of the centre
-
1 station · 6 mi west of the centre
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1 station · 6 mi north-northwest of the centre
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1 station · 9 mi east-northeast of the centre
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1 station · 38 mi east-southeast of the centre
1 more single low-power sites
Every Columbia 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.
Full power (8)
- WIS Columbia, SC · VHF
- 10.1 NBC
- 10.2 The CW
- WLTX Columbia, SC · UHF
- 19.1 CBS
- 19.2 True Crime Network
- 19.3 Shop LC
- 19.4 Quest
- 19.5 The Nest
- 19.6 Nosey
- 19.7 Antenna TV
- 19.8 [Blank])
- WOLO-TV Columbia, SC · VHF
- 25.1 ABC
- 25.2 Start TV
- 25.3 QVC
- 25.4 MeTV
- 25.5 Heroes & Icons
- 25.6 Dabl
- 25.7 Story Television
- 25.8 HSN
- 25.9 MeTV Toons
- 25.10 Newsmax2
- WRJA-TV Sumter, SC · UHF
- 27.1 PBS (SCETV)
- WRLK-TV Columbia, SC · UHF
- 35.1 PBS (SCETV)
- WZRB Columbia, SC · UHF
- 47.1 Ion Television
- 47.2 Court TV
- 47.3 Ion Mystery
- 47.4 Ion Plus
- 47.5 Catchy Comedy
- 47.6 Busted
- 47.7 Game Show Central
- 47.8 QVC2
- 47.9 HSN2
- WACH Columbia, SC · UHF
- 57.1 Fox
- 57.2 Roar
- 57.3 Charge!
- 57.4 Comet
- 57.5 The Nest
- WKTC Sumter, SC · UHF
- 63.1 MyNetworkTV
- 63.2 NBC True CRMZ
- 63.3 Cozi TV
- 63.4 Laff
- 63.5 Grit
- 63.6 Great
Questions about antenna TV in Columbia SC
What channels are CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX on antenna in Columbia SC?
What local channels can I get with an antenna in Columbia SC?
What is the best TV antenna for Columbia SC?
Which way should I point my antenna in Columbia SC?
For the curious: tower and licence details
- WZRB · facility 136750 · RF 25 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 155 kW · HAAT 192 m · licensed 2019-09-18
- WRLK-TV · facility 61013 · RF 33 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 281 kW · HAAT 316.9 m · licensed 2020-04-13 · newer construction permit granted
- WLTX · facility 37176 · RF 15 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 700 kW · HAAT 531.7 m · licensed 2019-09-26 · newer construction permit granted
- WACH · facility 19199 · RF 22 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 460 kW · HAAT 464 m · licensed 2020-01-07
- WKTC · facility 40902 · RF 31 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 426 kW · HAAT 391 m · licensed 2019-12-10
- WKDC-LD · facility 47719 · RF 16 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2025-06-27 · newer construction permit granted
- WOLO-TV · facility 60963 · RF 7 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 43.7 kW · HAAT 530 m · licensed 2020-07-13 · newer construction permit granted
- WIS · facility 13990 · RF 10 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 57 kW · HAAT 481 m · licensed 2010-08-03
- WTES-LD · facility 185606 · 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 2025-02-19
- WPAM-LD · facility 185538 · RF 18 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 4 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2025-03-27 · newer construction permit granted
- WRJA-TV · facility 61012 · RF 29 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 158.8 kW · HAAT 354.6 m · licensed 2021-07-28
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