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What channel is The CW on antenna in Milwaukee?

The CW is channel 18.1 (WVTV).

It broadcasts on RF 27 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.

Our terrain predictions put The CW on WVTV within antenna reach of about 99% of people in the Milwaukee 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 WVTV 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 18.1 comes from

  • Works on any digital TV

    WVTV RF 27 · UHF

    WVTV's own transmitter.

Which way to point for The CW around Milwaukee

Aim at the WVTV tower . It stands apart from the main tower site, so it may need its own aim.

FromPointDistance
Kenosha, WI north (358°) 35 mi
Waukesha, WI east-northeast (70°) 18 mi
West Allis, WI northeast (45°) 9 mi
Sheboygan, WI south (191°) 45 mi
Menomonee Falls, WI east-southeast (112°) 12 mi
South Milwaukee, WI north (350°) 13 mi
Fox Point, WI south (182°) 4 mi
Get the exact direction for your address

The antenna you need for The CW in Milwaukee

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 Milwaukee · 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 Milwaukee

All 55 antenna channels in Milwaukee

Questions about The CW in Milwaukee

What channel is The CW on antenna in Milwaukee?
The CW is channel 18.1 (WVTV) in Milwaukee. It broadcasts on RF 27 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.
Why did The CW 18.1 disappear from my TV?
Run a channel rescan first. If it is still missing, check that your antenna points toward the WVTV tower and that it handles UHF.
What antenna do I need for The CW in Milwaukee?
Any antenna that receives UHF, aimed at the WVTV tower. Height matters more than brand: indoor close in, attic or roof farther out.

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