Antenna TV channels in Flint-Saginaw-Bay City
15 stations broadcast free TV around Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, carrying 35 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 Flint-Saginaw-Bay City
For the big networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS) that reach each home, an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 43% of people in the Flint-Saginaw-Bay City market; about 56% need an attic or roof antenna. A typical home gets about 62 free channels from 19 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 | 98% | 47% |
| CBS | 98% | 90% |
| NBC | 99% | 89% |
| FOX | 97% | 80% |
| PBS | 99% | 90% |
| The CW | 99% | 88% |
Share of the market's 1,224k people, across its 156 ZIP codes.
Town by town
| Town | Antenna | Point | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flint ZIP 48502 | Attic or outdoor | west-southwest (237°, most) | 81 |
| Saginaw ZIP 48602 | Attic or outdoor | south-southwest (199°, most) | 62 |
| Midland ZIP 48642 | Attic or outdoor | south-southeast (157°, most) | 49 |
| Bay City ZIP 48708 | Attic or outdoor | south-southwest (201°, most) | 48 |
| Burton ZIP 48519 | Indoor likely | north-northwest (346°, most) | 99 |
| Mount Pleasant ZIP 48858 | Attic or outdoor | east-southeast (119°, most) | 49 |
| Owosso ZIP 48867 | Indoor likely | south-southwest (208°, most) | 54 |
| Fenton ZIP 48430 | Attic or outdoor | west (259°, most) | 98 |
| Alma ZIP 48801 | Indoor likely | east (100°, most) | 93 |
| Lapeer ZIP 48446 | Attic or outdoor | northwest (326°, most) | 80 |
| Flushing ZIP 48433 | Indoor likely | north-northeast (14°, most) | 82 |
| Grand Blanc ZIP 48439 | Indoor likely | north (350°, most) | 92 |
| St. Louis ZIP 48880 | Attic or outdoor | east-southeast (116°, most) | 56 |
| Swartz Creek ZIP 48473 | Indoor likely | west-southwest (238°, most) | 87 |
| Frankenmuth ZIP 48734 | Attic or outdoor | west-southwest (245°, most) | 40 |
For the ZIP nearest each town's centre. Tap a town for its full channel list.
What channel is each network on in Flint-Saginaw-Bay City?
| Network | Channel | Station |
|---|---|---|
 CBS | 5.1 | WNEM-TV |
 NBC | 25.1 also 66.2 | WEYI-TV |
 ABC | 12.1 | WJRT-TV |
 FOX | 66.1 | WSMH |
 PBS | 14.1 also 35.1 | WCMU-TV |
 The CW | 46.1 | WBSF |
The best TV antenna for Flint-Saginaw-Bay City
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 43% of people.
- 7 channels reach ordinary TVs only on VHF (WJRT-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 Saginaw, Bay City, Owosso and nearby
Aim at the main tower site ( and others). From the largest towns around Flint-Saginaw-Bay City:
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | northwest (304°) | 39 mi |
| Bay City, MI | west-northwest (285°) | 37 mi |
| Owosso, MI | north-northwest (337°) | 55 mi |
| Fenton, MI | northwest (325°) | 78 mi |
| Lapeer, MI | northwest (307°) | 80 mi |
| Grand Blanc, MI | northwest (318°) | 74 mi |
| Swartz Creek, MI | northwest (324°) | 66 mi |
| Caro, MI | west-northwest (286°) | 62 mi |
8 full-power stations transmit from elsewhere: WEYI-TV (57 mi away), WBSF (57 mi away), WAQP (45 mi away), WJRT-TV (44 mi away), WSMH (44 mi away), WNEM-TV (42 mi away), WDCQ-TV (49 mi away), WCMU-TV (30 mi away). If you live near one of them, it may need a separate aim.
Where the Flint-Saginaw-Bay City TV towers are
Map of 12 tower sites around Flint-Saginaw-Bay City. The list below has every site.
-
3 stations · 67 mi northwest of the centre
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2 stations · 13 mi north of the centre
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1 station · 23 mi northwest of the centre
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1 station · 23 mi northwest of the centre
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1 station · 24 mi northwest of the centre
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1 station · 32 mi north-northwest of the centre
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1 station · 36 mi north of the centre
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1 station · 91 mi northwest of the centre
NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) in Flint-Saginaw-Bay City
One station (WBSF) 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 .
WBSF sends NextGen TV on RF 23
- 46.1 The CW: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 46.2 Charge!: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 46.3 network unknown: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
Every Flint-Saginaw-Bay City 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. 2 subchannels have no confirmed network; we show them as "network unknown" rather than guess.
Full power (8)
- WNEM-TV Bay City, MI · UHF
- 5.1 CBS
- 5.2 Independent with MyNetworkTV
- 5.3 Cozi TV
- 5.4 Ion
- 5.5 Court TV
- 5.6 365BLK
- WJRT-TV Flint, MI · VHF
- 12.1 ABC
- 12.2 MeTV
- 12.3 Catchy Comedy
- 12.4 Start TV
- 12.5 Heroes & Icons
- 12.6 Bounce TV
- 12.7 MeTV Toons
- WCMU-TV Mount Pleasant, MI · UHF
- 14.1 PBS
- WEYI-TV Saginaw, MI · UHF
- 25.1 NBC
- 25.2 The Nest
- 25.3 Quest
- WDCQ-TV Bad Axe, MI · UHF
- 35.1 PBS
- WBSF Bay City, MI · UHF · NextGen TV
- 46.1 The CW
- 46.2 Charge!
- 46.3 network unknown
- WAQP Saginaw, MI · UHF
- 49.1 TCT
- 49.2 SonLife
- 49.3 network unknown
- 49.4 Laff
- 49.5 Ion Mystery
- 49.6 Grit
- 49.7 Ion Plus
- 49.8 Jewelry TV
- 49.9 Biz TV
- 49.10 True Crime Network
- 49.11 Great
- WSMH Flint, MI · UHF
- 66.1 Fox
- 66.2 NBC
- 66.3 Comet
Low power (7)
- W19FG-D Midland, MI · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- W27ET-D Saginaw, MI · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- W31FF-D Grand Rapids, MI · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- W35DQ-D Midland, MI · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WFFC-LD Midland, MI · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WKNX-LD Bay City, MI · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WXON-LD Flint, MI · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
Questions about antenna TV in Flint-Saginaw-Bay City
What channels are CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX on antenna in Flint-Saginaw-Bay City?
What local channels can I get with an antenna in Flint-Saginaw-Bay City?
What is the best TV antenna for Flint-Saginaw-Bay City?
Which way should I point my antenna in Flint-Saginaw-Bay City?
Do I need a new TV for NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) in Flint-Saginaw-Bay City?
For the curious: tower and licence details
- WXON-LD · facility 15456 · RF 29 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2021-07-14 · newer construction permit granted
- W35DQ-D · facility 184496 · 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 2019-07-26
- WEYI-TV · facility 72052 · RF 18 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 300 kW · HAAT 393 m · licensed 2022-03-09
- WBSF · facility 82627 · RF 23 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 600 kW · HAAT 365 m · licensed 2024-02-26
- WAQP · facility 67792 · RF 36 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 287 m · licensed 2020-01-15
- WJRT-TV · facility 21735 · RF 12 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 30 kW · HAAT 286 m · licensed 2022-03-14
- WSMH · facility 21737 · RF 16 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 245 kW · HAAT 365.5 m · licensed 2022-03-09
- WFFC-LD · facility 184493 · RF 17 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 10 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2019-10-29
- WNEM-TV · facility 41221 · RF 30 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 585 kW · HAAT 303 m · licensed 2022-03-09
- WDCQ-TV · facility 16530 · RF 15 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 200 kW · HAAT 309 m · licensed 2004-02-04
- WKNX-LD · facility 29661 · RF 22 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 0.3 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2021-06-28 · newer construction permit granted
- W31FF-D · facility 184809 · RF 31 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2024-07-15 · newer construction permit granted
- W27ET-D · facility 184810 · RF 27 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2024-07-15 · newer construction permit granted
- W19FG-D · facility 184811 · RF 19 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 0.5 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2025-07-11 · newer construction permit granted
- WCMU-TV · facility 9908 · RF 26 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 450 kW · HAAT 298 m · licensed 2013-08-08
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