Antenna TV channels in Milwaukee
19 stations broadcast free TV around Milwaukee, carrying 55 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 Milwaukee
For the big networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS) that reach each home, an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 10% of people in the Milwaukee market; about 90% need an attic or roof antenna. A typical home gets about 61 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 | 99+% | 95% |
| CBS | 99+% | 89% |
| NBC | 99+% | 91% |
| FOX | 99+% | 93% |
| PBS | 99+% | 16% |
| The CW | 99+% | 91% |
| Univision | 19% | 9% |
| Telemundo | 99+% | 87% |
Share of the market's 2,345k people, across its 165 ZIP codes.
Town by town
| Town | Antenna | Point | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee ZIP 53210 | Attic or outdoor | northeast (50°, most) | 61 |
| Kenosha ZIP 53142 | Indoor likely | south-southeast (165°, most) | 134 |
| Racine ZIP 53405 | Indoor likely | north (350°, most) | 134 |
| Waukesha ZIP 53188 | Attic or outdoor | east-northeast (73°) | 55 |
| West Allis ZIP 53227 | Attic or outdoor | northeast (40°) | 61 |
| Sheboygan ZIP 53081 | Attic or outdoor | south-southwest (192°) | 76 |
| Wauwatosa ZIP 53226 | Attic or outdoor | east-northeast (62°) | 55 |
| Brookfield ZIP 53005 | Attic or outdoor | east-northeast (75°) | 54 |
| Menomonee Falls ZIP 53051 | Attic or outdoor | east-southeast (109°) | 55 |
| New Berlin ZIP 53146 | Attic or outdoor | northeast (54°) | 54 |
| Oak Creek ZIP 53154 | Attic or outdoor | north (359°) | 119 |
| Greenfield ZIP 53220 | Attic or outdoor | north-northeast (24°) | 55 |
| Franklin ZIP 53132 | Attic or outdoor | north-northeast (18°) | 95 |
| West Bend ZIP 53095 | Attic or outdoor | south-southeast (147°) | 55 |
| Mount Pleasant ZIP 53177 | Attic or outdoor | north (359°) | 134 |
For the ZIP nearest each town's centre. Tap a town for its full channel list.
What channel is each network on in Milwaukee?
| Network | Channel | Station |
|---|---|---|
 CBS | 58.1 | WDJT-TV |
 NBC | 4.1 | WTMJ-TV |
 ABC | 12.1 | WISN-TV |
 FOX | 6.1 | WITI |
 PBS | 10.1 also 36.1 | WMVS |
 The CW | 18.1 | WVTV |
 ION | 55.1 | WPXE-TV |
 Telemundo | 58.4 | WDJT-TV |
The best TV antenna for Milwaukee
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 10% of people.
- 15 channels reach ordinary TVs only on VHF (WMVS, WMVT, WIWN), 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 Kenosha, Waukesha, West Allis and nearby
Aim at the main tower site (WIWN, WMVT, WMVS and others). From the largest towns around Milwaukee:
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WI | north (358°) | 35 mi |
| Waukesha, WI | east-northeast (71°) | 18 mi |
| West Allis, WI | northeast (46°) | 9 mi |
| Sheboygan, WI | south (191°) | 45 mi |
| Menomonee Falls, WI | east-southeast (112°) | 12 mi |
| South Milwaukee, WI | north (351°) | 13 mi |
| Fox Point, WI | south (182°) | 4 mi |
9 full-power stations transmit from elsewhere: WTMJ-TV (0 mi away), WMLW-TV (2 mi away), WDJT-TV (2 mi away), WISN-TV (2 mi away), WVTV (0 mi away), WVCY-TV (1 mi away), WITI (1 mi away), WPXE-TV (1 mi away), WWRS-TV (39 mi away). If you live near one of them, it may need a separate aim.
Where the Milwaukee TV towers are
Map of 8 tower sites around Milwaukee. The list below has every site.
-
6 stations · 4 mi northeast of the centre
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4 stations · 4 mi north-northeast of the centre
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3 stations · 4 mi east-northeast of the centre
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2 stations · 13 mi west-southwest of the centre
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1 station · 4 mi east-northeast of the centre
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1 station · 4 mi north-northeast of the centre
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1 station · 4 mi northeast of the centre
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1 station · 38 mi northwest of the centre
Every Milwaukee 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 (12)
- WTMJ-TV Milwaukee, WI · UHF
- 4.1 NBC
- 4.2 Bounce TV
- 4.3 Grit
- 4.4 Laff
- 4.5 Ion Mystery
- 4.6 QVC2
- 4.7 Shop LC
- 4.8 OnTV4U
- WITI Milwaukee, WI · UHF
- 6.1 Fox
- WMVS Milwaukee, WI · VHF
- 10.1 PBS
- 10.2 Home and garden instructional television programming; it features no local programming.
- 10.3 Children's programming; replaced the Spanish-language network V-Me on January 9, 2017, during a soft-launch leading to its official January 16 launch.
- WISN-TV Milwaukee, WI · UHF
- 12.1 ABC
- 12.2 True Crime Network
- 12.4 Story Television
- 12.6 Great
- WVTV Milwaukee, WI · UHF
- 18.1 The CW
- WVCY-TV Milwaukee, WI · UHF
- 30.1 Religious independent
- WMVT Milwaukee, WI · VHF
- 36.1 PBS
- 36.2 Features PBS' news and public affairs programming, along with government hearings, presidential speeches and some local government programming.
- 36.3 Looping weather forecast maps and temperature data without any meteorologist-presented forecasting, and audio from local NOAA Weather Radio station KEC60. The channel is programmed by AccuWeather, separate from the "Local AccuWeather Channel" it formerly provided to commercial stations.
- WMLW-TV Racine, WI · UHF
- 49.1 Independent
- 49.2 Movies! · on WBME-CD's signal
- 49.3 Heroes & Icons · on WBME-CD's signal
- 49.4 Catchy Comedy · on WBME-CD's signal
- 49.5 MeTV Toons · on WBME-CD's signal
- WWRS-TV Mayville, WI · UHF
- 52.1 TBN
- WPXE-TV Kenosha, WI · UHF
- 55.1 Ion Television
- 55.2 Bounce TV
- 55.3 Court TV
- 55.4 Defy
- 55.5 Ion Plus
- 55.6 Busted
- 55.7 Game Show Central
- 55.8 QVC
- WDJT-TV Milwaukee, WI · UHF
- 58.1 CBS
- 58.3 Independent
- 58.4 Telemundo
- WIWN Fond Du Lac, WI · VHF
- 68.1 Cozi TV
- 68.2 SonLife
- 68.3 Quest
- 68.4 MovieSphere Gold
- 68.5 Oxygen
- 68.6 Roar
- 68.7 Dabl
- 68.8 SonLife
- 68.11 RVTV
Class A (2)
Low power (5)
- WWMW-LD Milwaukee, WI · VHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WDMW-LD Milwaukee, WI · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WTAS-LD Waukesha, WI · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WTSJ-LD Milwaukee, WI · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WYTU-LD Milwaukee, WI · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
Questions about antenna TV in Milwaukee
What channels are CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX on antenna in Milwaukee?
What local channels can I get with an antenna in Milwaukee?
What is the best TV antenna for Milwaukee?
Which way should I point my antenna in Milwaukee?
For the curious: tower and licence details
- WTMJ-TV · facility 74098 · RF 32 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 304.6 m · licensed 2019-10-22 · newer construction permit granted
- WMLW-TV · facility 68545 · 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 2019-11-04
- WDJT-TV · facility 71427 · RF 29 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 351 m · licensed 2019-10-22
- WBME-CD · facility 71422 · 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 2019-11-04
- WYTU-LD · facility 168618 · RF 16 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 7 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2019-10-10
- WISN-TV · facility 65680 · RF 28 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 304.7 m · licensed 2019-11-19
- WVTV · facility 74174 · RF 27 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 318 m · licensed 2020-09-28 · newer construction permit granted
- WIWN · facility 60571 · RF 5 (VHF-low) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 9 kW · HAAT 338 m · licensed 2012-09-18 · newer construction permit granted
- WWMW-LD · facility 67976 · RF 9 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 3 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2024-04-22
- WMVT · facility 42665 · RF 8 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 32 kW · HAAT 357 m · licensed 2018-01-18
- WMVS · facility 42663 · RF 8 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 32 kW · HAAT 357 m · licensed 2018-01-18 · newer construction permit granted
- WTSJ-LD · facility 56213 · RF 26 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 10 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2020-09-02 · newer construction permit granted
- WMKE-CD · facility 35091 · RF 36 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2020-06-23
- WVCY-TV · facility 72342 · RF 31 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 316 m · licensed 2019-10-23
- WITI · facility 73107 · RF 31 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 316 m · licensed 2019-10-23 · newer construction permit granted
- WPXE-TV · facility 37104 · RF 30 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 800 kW · HAAT 316 m · licensed 2019-11-01 · newer construction permit granted
- WDMW-LD · facility 68041 · 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 2022-06-21
- WTAS-LD · facility 71112 · RF 23 (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
- WWRS-TV · facility 68547 · RF 34 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 504 kW · HAAT 186 m · licensed 2019-11-01
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