What channel is CBS on antenna in New York?
CBS is channel 2.1 (WCBS-TV).
It broadcasts on RF 36 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.
Our terrain predictions put CBS on WCBS-TV within antenna reach of about 94% of people in the New York market, and an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 90% (an estimate, not yet checked against real scans). Check your ZIP.
Updated from FCC data
Lost CBS? 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 CBS still doesn't appear, the antenna needs to point toward the WCBS-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 CBS 2.1 comes from
-
Works on any digital TV
WCBS-TV RF 36 · UHF
WCBS-TV's own transmitter.
Which way to point for CBS around New York
Aim at the WCBS-TV tower , at the main tower site with most other stations.
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Newark, NJ | east (95°) | 8 mi |
| Jersey City, NJ | east (88°) | 3 mi |
| Yonkers, NY | south-southwest (205°) | 18 mi |
| Bridgeport, CT | southwest (233°) | 54 mi |
| Trenton, NJ | northeast (49°) | 52 mi |
| Hempstead, NY | west (272°) | 21 mi |
| Long Branch, NJ | north (358°) | 29 mi |
The antenna you need for CBS in New York
CBS 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 New York · 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 WCBS-TV
- 2.2 Start TV
- 2.3 Dabl
- 2.4 365BLK
- 2.5 Comet
Other networks in New York
Questions about CBS in New York
What channel is CBS on antenna in New York?
Why did CBS 2.1 disappear from my TV?
What antenna do I need for CBS in New York?
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