What channel is The CW on antenna in Des Moines-Ames?
The CW is channel 23.1 (KCWI-TV).
It broadcasts on RF 23 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.
Our terrain predictions put The CW on KCWI-TV within antenna reach of about 96% of people in the Des Moines-Ames market, and an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 86% (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 KCWI-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 23.1 comes from
-
Works on any digital TV
KCWI-TV RF 23 · UHF
KCWI-TV's own transmitter.
Which way to point for The CW around Des Moines-Ames
Aim at the KCWI-TV tower , at the main tower site with most other stations.
| 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 |
The antenna you need for The CW in Des Moines-Ames
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 Des Moines-Ames · 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 KCWI-TV
- 23.2 Quest
- 23.3 Oxygen
- 23.4 [Blank]
- 23.5 Great
- 23.6 [Blank]
Other networks in Des Moines-Ames
Questions about The CW in Des Moines-Ames
What channel is The CW on antenna in Des Moines-Ames?
Why did The CW 23.1 disappear from my TV?
What antenna do I need for The CW in Des Moines-Ames?
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