What channel is CBS on antenna in San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose?
CBS is channel 5.1 (KPIX-TV).
It broadcasts on RF 29 (UHF), which any digital TV can receive.
Our terrain predictions put CBS on KPIX-TV within antenna reach of about 84% of people in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose market, and an indoor antenna is likely enough for about 65% (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 KPIX-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 5.1 comes from
-
Works on any digital TV
KPIX-TV RF 29 · UHF
KPIX-TV's own transmitter.
Which way to point for CBS around San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
Aim at the KPIX-TV tower , at the main tower site with most other stations.
| From | Point | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | northwest (312°) | 47 mi |
| Oakland, CA | west (265°) | 12 mi |
| Santa Rosa, CA | south-southeast (164°) | 50 mi |
| Richmond, CA | south-southwest (200°) | 15 mi |
The antenna you need for CBS in San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
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 San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose · 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 KPIX-TV
- 5.2 Start TV
- 5.3 Dabl
- 5.4 365BLK
- 5.5 Comet
Other networks in San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
Questions about CBS in San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
What channel is CBS on antenna in San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose?
Why did CBS 5.1 disappear from my TV?
What antenna do I need for CBS in San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose?
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