Antenna TV channels in Richmond-Petersburg
12 stations broadcast free TV around Richmond-Petersburg, carrying 36 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 Richmond-Petersburg
For the big networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS) that reach each home, an indoor antenna is likely enough for about <1% of people in the Richmond-Petersburg market; about 98% need an attic or roof antenna, and for about 2% reception depends on the exact spot. A typical home gets about 54 free channels from 20 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 | 97% | 86% |
| CBS | 97% | 86% |
| NBC | 96% | 3% |
| FOX | 96% | 86% |
| PBS | 97% | 86% |
| The CW | 95% | 0% |
| Univision | 10% | 0% |
| Telemundo | 8% | 0% |
Share of the market's 1,602k people, across its 148 ZIP codes.
Town by town
| Town | Antenna | Point | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond ZIP 23220 | Attic or outdoor | west-southwest (252°, most) | 80 |
| Petersburg ZIP 23805 | Attic or outdoor | north-northwest (334°) | 81 |
| Fredericksburg ZIP 22401 | Spotty | – | 0 |
| Hopewell ZIP 23860 | Attic or outdoor | northwest (316°) | 79 |
| Colonial Heights ZIP 23834 | Attic or outdoor | north-northwest (330°) | 66 |
| Ashland ZIP 23005 | Attic or outdoor | south-southwest (200°) | 47 |
| Farmville ZIP 23909 | Attic or outdoor | east-northeast (71°, most) | 53 |
| West Point ZIP 23181 | Attic or outdoor | west (265°) | 73 |
| Blackstone ZIP 23824 | Attic or outdoor | northeast (38°) | 48 |
For the ZIP nearest each town's centre. Tap a town for its full channel list.
What channel is each network on in Richmond-Petersburg?
| Network | Channel | Station |
|---|---|---|
 CBS | 6.1 | WTVR-TV |
 NBC | 12.1 | WWBT |
 ABC | 8.1 | WRIC-TV |
 FOX | 35.1 | WRLH-TV |
 PBS | 23.1 also 23.5, 57.1, 57.2 | WCVE-TV |
 The CW | 65.1 | WUPV |
The best TV antenna for Richmond-Petersburg
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 0% of people.
- 5 channels reach ordinary TVs only on VHF (WWBT), 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 Petersburg, Fredericksburg, Hopewell and nearby
Aim at the main tower site (WRLH-TV, WCVE-TV, WCVW, WTVR-TV and others). From the largest towns around Richmond-Petersburg:
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Petersburg, VA | north-northwest (332°) | 24 mi |
| Fredericksburg, VA | south (187°) | 55 mi |
| Hopewell, VA | northwest (313°) | 23 mi |
| Farmville, VA | east-northeast (71°) | 46 mi |
| West Point, VA | west (267°) | 44 mi |
| Blackstone, VA | northeast (36°) | 37 mi |
2 full-power stations transmit from elsewhere: WWBT (5 mi away), WUPV (25 mi away). If you live near one of them, it may need a separate aim.
Where the Richmond-Petersburg TV towers are
Map of 3 tower sites around Richmond-Petersburg. The list below has every site.
NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) in Richmond-Petersburg
2 stations (WCVW, WUPV) now send the newer NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) A newer broadcast format. Older TVs can't decode it, so stations also send the old format from a partner station. More in the glossary format. Older TVs can't decode it, so stations share: each channel that moved is also sent in the old format by a partner station (a Lighthouse (channel sharing) One station switches to NextGen TV and carries other stations' 3.0 versions; partners carry its old-format version. More in the glossary arrangement). Your TV shows the same number; at most you need a Rescan Asking your TV to search for channels again. Fixes most missing channels. More in the glossary .
WCVW sends NextGen TV on RF 29
- 57.1 PBS: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 57.2 PBS: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 57.3 PBS Kids: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 57.4 Create: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 57.5 World Channel: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
WUPV sends NextGen TV on RF 8
- 65.1 The CW: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 65.2 network unknown: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 65.3 network unknown: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 65.4 network unknown: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
- 65.5 Start TV: ordinary TVs get it from no partner in our data
Every Richmond-Petersburg 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. 3 subchannels have no confirmed network; we show them as "network unknown" rather than guess.
Full power (7)
- WTVR-TV Richmond, VA · UHF
- 6.1 CBS
- 6.2 CBS6 Xtra
- 6.3 Ion Mystery
- 6.4 Court TV
- 6.5 Ion
- 6.6 Busted
- 6.7 HSN
- WRIC-TV Petersburg, VA · UHF
- 8.1 ABC
- 8.2 Antenna TV
- 8.3 Cozi TV
- 8.4 Laff
- WWBT Richmond, VA · VHF
- 12.1 NBC
- 12.2 MeTV
- 12.3 Heroes & Icons
- 12.4 Ion Mystery
- 12.5 True Crime Network
- WCVE-TV Richmond, VA · UHF
- 23.1 PBS
- 23.2 Create
- 23.3 World Channel
- 23.4 PBS Kids
- 23.5 PBS
- WRLH-TV Richmond, VA · UHF
- 35.1 Fox
- 35.2 Roar / MyNetworkTV
- 35.3 Comet
- 35.4 Charge!
- 35.5 The Nest
- WCVW Richmond, VA · UHF · NextGen TV
- 57.1 PBS
- 57.2 PBS
- 57.3 PBS Kids
- 57.4 Create
- 57.5 World Channel
- WUPV Ashland, VA · VHF · NextGen TV
- 65.1 The CW
- 65.2 network unknown
- 65.3 network unknown
- 65.4 network unknown
- 65.5 Start TV
Low power (5)
- WUDW-LD Richmond, VA · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WFWG-LD Richmond, VA · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WRID-LD Richmond, VA · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WWBK-LD Richmond, VA · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
- WZTD-LD Richmond, VA · UHF
No channel lineup in our data for this station yet.
Questions about antenna TV in Richmond-Petersburg
What channels are CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX on antenna in Richmond-Petersburg?
What local channels can I get with an antenna in Richmond-Petersburg?
What is the best TV antenna for Richmond-Petersburg?
Which way should I point my antenna in Richmond-Petersburg?
Do I need a new TV for NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) in Richmond-Petersburg?
For the curious: tower and licence details
- WWBT · facility 30833 · RF 10 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 29 kW · HAAT 237 m · licensed 2022-03-24
- WRID-LD · facility 65116 · 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 2022-05-20
- WRLH-TV · facility 412 · RF 24 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 327.7 m · licensed 2022-03-24
- WCVE-TV · facility 9987 · RF 22 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 310 kW · HAAT 327.3 m · licensed 2020-04-23
- WCVW · facility 9989 · RF 29 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 112 kW · HAAT 327.3 m · licensed 2022-04-07
- WTVR-TV · facility 57832 · RF 23 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 410 kW · HAAT 346 m · licensed 2022-03-24
- WZTD-LD · facility 68490 · RF 34 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2020-01-16
- WRIC-TV · facility 74416 · RF 28 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 1000 kW · HAAT 345.7 m · licensed 2022-03-24
- WUDW-LD · facility 182288 · RF 15 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 8 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2019-09-17 · newer construction permit granted
- WFWG-LD · facility 182308 · RF 30 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 8 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2019-09-17
- WWBK-LD · facility 190695 · RF 25 (UHF) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 15 kW · HAAT not filed · licensed 2020-04-23
- WUPV · facility 10897 · RF 8 (VHF-high) · ERP (effective radiated power) Transmitter power after the antenna's gain, in kilowatts. More in the glossary 30 kW · HAAT 257 m · licensed 2024-02-26
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