What channel is PBS on antenna in Madison?
PBS is channel 21.1 (WHA-TV).
It broadcasts on RF 20 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.
Our terrain predictions put PBS on WHA-TV within antenna reach of about 86% of people in the Madison market, and an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 74% (an estimate, not yet checked against real scans). Check your ZIP.
Updated from FCC data
Lost PBS? 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 PBS still doesn't appear, the antenna needs to point toward the WHA-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 PBS 21.1 comes from
-
Works on any digital TV
WHA-TV RF 20 · UHF
WHA-TV's own transmitter.
Which way to point for PBS around Madison
Aim at the WHA-TV tower , at the main tower site with most other stations.
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Prairie, WI | west-southwest (240°) | 18 mi |
| Fitchburg, WI | northwest (311°) | 7 mi |
| Verona, WI | north (3°) | 4 mi |
| Waunakee, WI | south-southwest (208°) | 10 mi |
| Stoughton, WI | west-northwest (300°) | 18 mi |
| Baraboo, WI | south-southeast (160°) | 30 mi |
| Cottage Grove, WI | west (261°) | 17 mi |
| Mount Horeb, WI | east-northeast (71°) | 11 mi |
The antenna you need for PBS in Madison
PBS 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 Madison · VHF Lower frequencies (RF 2–13). Needs an antenna with longer elements; many flat indoor antennas are weak here. More in the glossary
Other networks in Madison
Questions about PBS in Madison
What channel is PBS on antenna in Madison?
Why did PBS 21.1 disappear from my TV?
What antenna do I need for PBS in Madison?
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