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What channel is CBS on antenna in Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News?

CBS is channel 3.1 (WTKR).

It broadcasts on RF 16 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.

Our terrain predictions put CBS on WTKR within antenna reach of about 99% of people in the Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News market, and an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 94% (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 WTKR 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 3.1 comes from

  • Works on any digital TV

    WTKR RF 16 · UHF

    WTKR's own transmitter.

Which way to point for CBS around Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News

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

FromPointDistance
Virginia Beach, VA west (275°) 26 mi
Chesapeake, VA northwest (309°) 14 mi
Newport News, VA south (177°) 19 mi
Hampton, VA southwest (215°) 20 mi
Suffolk, VA northeast (43°) 11 mi
Smithfield, VA south-southeast (152°) 13 mi
Get the exact direction for your address

The antenna you need for CBS in Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News

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 Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News · 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 WTKR

  • 3.2 Court TV
  • 3.3 Bounce TV
  • 3.4 HSN
  • 3.5 QVC

Other networks in Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News

All 46 antenna channels in Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News

Questions about CBS in Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News

What channel is CBS on antenna in Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News?
CBS is channel 3.1 (WTKR) in Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News. It broadcasts on RF 16 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.
Why did CBS 3.1 disappear from my TV?
Run a channel rescan first. If it is still missing, check that your antenna points toward the WTKR tower and that it handles UHF.
What antenna do I need for CBS in Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News?
Any antenna that receives UHF, aimed at the WTKR 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