Antenna TV channels in Des Moines-Ames
16 stations broadcast free TV around Des Moines-Ames, carrying 53 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 Des Moines-Ames
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 Des Moines-Ames market; about 99% need an attic or roof antenna. A typical home gets about 46 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% | <1% |
| CBS | 98% | 1% |
| NBC | 97% | 2% |
| FOX | 97% | 2% |
| PBS | 98% | 8% |
| The CW | 96% | 86% |
Share of the market's 1,131k people, across its 283 ZIP codes.
Town by town
| Town | Antenna | Point | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines ZIP 50309 | Attic or outdoor | north (2°) | 46 |
| Ankeny ZIP 50021 | Attic or outdoor | north-northwest (341°) | 46 |
| West Des Moines ZIP 50266 | Attic or outdoor | north-northeast (31°) | 46 |
| Ames ZIP 50010 | Attic or outdoor | south (178°) | 46 |
| Urbandale ZIP 50325 | Attic or outdoor | northeast (34°) | 46 |
| Waukee ZIP 50263 | Attic or outdoor | northeast (42°) | 46 |
| Marshalltown ZIP 50158 | Attic or outdoor | west-southwest (246°) | 72 |
| Johnston ZIP 50131 | Attic or outdoor | north-northeast (32°) | 46 |
| Fort Dodge ZIP 50501 | Attic or outdoor | south-southeast (149°, most) | 46 |
| Altoona ZIP 50009 | Attic or outdoor | north-northwest (327°) | 46 |
| Clive ZIP 50325 | Attic or outdoor | northeast (34°) | 46 |
| Grimes ZIP 50111 | Attic or outdoor | northeast (47°) | 46 |
| Indianola ZIP 50125 | Attic or outdoor | north (355°) | 46 |
| Newton ZIP 50208 | Attic or outdoor | west-northwest (286°) | 69 |
| Norwalk ZIP 50211 | Attic or outdoor | north (8°) | 46 |
For the ZIP nearest each town's centre. Tap a town for its full channel list.
What channel is each network on in Des Moines-Ames?
| Network | Channel | Station |
|---|---|---|
 CBS | 8.1 | KCCI |
 NBC | 13.1 | WHO-DT |
 ABC | 5.1 | WOI-DT |
 FOX | 17.1 | KDSM-TV |
 PBS | 11.1 also 21.1 | KDIN-TV |
 The CW | 23.1 | KCWI-TV |
 ION | 39.1 | KFPX-TV |
The best TV antenna for Des Moines-Ames
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 0% of people.
- 21 channels reach ordinary TVs only on VHF (WOI-DT, KCCI, KDIN-TV, WHO-DT), 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 Ankeny, West Des Moines, Urbandale and nearby
Aim at the main tower site (KCWI-TV, KDSM-TV, KDMI and others). From the largest towns around Des Moines-Ames:
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | north (353°) | 7 mi |
| West Des Moines, IA | north-northeast (24°) | 21 mi |
| Urbandale, IA | north-northeast (32°) | 16 mi |
| Marshalltown, IA | west-southwest (249°) | 39 mi |
| Indianola, IA | north (355°) | 32 mi |
| Newton, IA | west-northwest (288°) | 31 mi |
| Norwalk, IA | north (10°) | 24 mi |
| Knoxville, IA | northwest (323°) | 44 mi |
6 full-power stations transmit from elsewhere: WOI-DT (1 mi away), KDIN-TV (1 mi away), WHO-DT (1 mi away), KCCI (1 mi away), KFPX-TV (1 mi away), KTIN (79 mi away). If you live near one of them, it may need a separate aim.
Where the Des Moines-Ames TV towers are
Map of 8 tower sites around Des Moines-Ames. The list below has every site.
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4 stations · 18 mi north of the centre
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3 stations · 16 mi north of the centre
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3 stations · 27 mi northeast of the centre
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2 stations · 16 mi north of the centre
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1 station · in the centre
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1 station · 95 mi north-northwest of the centre
NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) in Des Moines-Ames
One station (KDSM-TV) 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 .
KDSM-TV sends NextGen TV on RF 16
- 17.1 Fox: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 17.2 network unknown: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 17.3 Charge!: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 17.4 network unknown: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 17.10 T2: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 17.11 Pickleballtv: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 17.20 GameLoop: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 17.21 ROXi: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
Every Des Moines-Ames 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. 3 subchannels have no confirmed network; we show them as "network unknown" rather than guess.
Full power (9)
- WOI-DT Ames, IA · VHF
- 5.1 ABC
- 5.2 True Crime Network
- 5.3 Grit
- 5.4 The Nest
- 5.6 [Blank]
- 5.7 365BLK
- 5.8 Outlaw
- 5.9 [Blank]
- KCCI Des Moines, IA · VHF
- 8.1 CBS
- 8.2 MeTV
- 8.3 H&I / MyNetworkTV
- 8.4 Story Television
- KDIN-TV Des Moines, IA · VHF
- 11.1 PBS
- 11.2 PBS Kids
- 11.3 World
- 11.4 Create
- 11.99 IRIS
- WHO-DT Des Moines, IA · VHF
- 13.1 NBC
- 13.2 Cozi TV
- 13.3 Antenna TV
- 13.4 Iowa's Weather Channel
- KDSM-TV Des Moines, IA · UHF · NextGen TV
- 17.1 Fox
- 17.2 network unknown
- 17.3 Charge!
- 17.4 network unknown
- 17.10 T2
- 17.11 Pickleballtv
- 17.20 GameLoop
- 17.21 ROXi
- KTIN Fort Dodge, IA · UHF
- 21.1 PBS
- KCWI-TV Ames, IA · UHF
- 23.1 The CW
- 23.2 Quest
- 23.3 Oxygen
- 23.4 [Blank]
- 23.5 Great
- 23.6 [Blank]
- KFPX-TV Newton, IA · UHF
- 39.1 Ion Television
- 39.2 Court TV
- 39.3 Laff
- 39.4 Ion Mystery
- 39.5 Ion Plus
- 39.6 Busted
- 39.7 Game Show Central
- 39.8 HSN
- 39.9 HSN2
- KDMI Des Moines, IA · UHF
- 56.1 TCT
Class A (2)
Low power (4)
- KCYM-LD Des Moines, IA · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- K32NM-D Des Moines, IA · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- KAJR-LD Des Moines, IA · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- KRPG-LD Des Moines, IA · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
Translator (1)
- K31PO-D Des Moines, IA · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
Questions about antenna TV in Des Moines-Ames
What channels are CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX on antenna in Des Moines-Ames?
What local channels can I get with an antenna in Des Moines-Ames?
What is the best TV antenna for Des Moines-Ames?
Which way should I point my antenna in Des Moines-Ames?
Do I need a new TV for NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) in Des Moines-Ames?
For the curious: tower and licence details
- WBXF-CD · facility 70417 · RF 28 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 9.3 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2015-10-28 · newer construction permit granted
- K32NM-D · facility 64174 · RF 32 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2019-09-20
- WOI-DT · facility 8661 · RF 5 (VHF-low) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 13.9 kW · HAAT 566 m · licensed 2011-05-16 · newer construction permit granted
- KDIN-TV · facility 29102 · RF 11 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 22.5 kW · HAAT 600 m · licensed 2023-03-17 · newer construction permit granted
- WHO-DT · facility 66221 · RF 13 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 36.5 kW · HAAT 600 m · licensed 2023-03-17
- KCCI · facility 33710 · RF 8 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 44.6 kW · HAAT 596.5 m · licensed 2023-03-17
- KFPX-TV · facility 81509 · RF 36 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 270 kW · HAAT 564 m · licensed 2018-11-15
- KDIT-CD · facility 46753 · 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 2022-09-12
- KCWI-TV · facility 51502 · RF 23 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 246 kW · HAAT 610 m · licensed 2010-06-24 · newer construction permit granted
- KDSM-TV · facility 56527 · RF 16 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 612 m · licensed 2024-07-18
- KDMI · facility 78915 · RF 19 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 839 kW · HAAT 610 m · licensed 2012-07-11 · newer construction permit granted
- K31PO-D · facility 67879 · RF 31 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 2.5 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2025-06-26 · newer construction permit granted
- KAJR-LD · facility 188743 · 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 2021-02-10
- KCYM-LD · facility 188745 · RF 26 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2021-03-11
- KRPG-LD · facility 189990 · RF 24 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2021-02-09
- KTIN · facility 29100 · RF 25 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 600 kW · HAAT 355 m · licensed 2007-12-06
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