Best TV antenna for Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles TV market · 32 stations · tower locations from FCC records, checked October 30, 2026
The short answer
- Get an antenna rated for VHF-high (channels 7–13) and UHF; many flat "HD" antennas are weak on VHF-high (add VHF-low only if you want KSCN-TV, KWHY and KVCR-DT).
- The towers sit in one direction: 18 miles northeast of Los Angeles. A directional antenna aimed northeast should get them all. Exceptions: KVCR-DT (58 miles east).
- From most of Los Angeles an indoor antenna by a window often works; go to the attic or roof if you're in a basement, behind a hill or want the VHF stations.
- Nothing special is needed for NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0): the same antenna works.
Measured from central Los Angeles. Hills, buildings and trees matter as much as miles, so use your zip below and the address-level maps linked at the bottom before you buy.
Check from your zip code
Where Los Angeles’s TV towers are
The channel number on your TV isn’t the frequency the station uses. The “real channel” decides which antenna you need: 2–6 is VHF-low, 7–13 VHF-high, 14–36 UHF.
| Station | Real channel | Tower from Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| KSFV-CD (MeTV Toons 6) | 27 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KPOM-CD (Catchy Comedy 14) | 27 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KSKJ-CD (TIMELESS TV 38) | 26 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KILM (Bounce 64) | 24 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KHTV-CD (MeTV 48) | 22 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KSCN-TV (22) | 4 · VHF-low | 18 miles northeast |
| KVMD (31) | 23 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KOCE-TV (PBS 50) | 18 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KAZA-TV (MeTV 54) | 22 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KWHY (63) | 4 · VHF-low | 18 miles northeast |
| KPXN-TV (ION 30) | 24 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KMEX-DT (Univision 34) | 34 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KFTR-DT (UniMás 46) | 29 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KXLA (44) | 30 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KJLA (Vision Latina 57) | 30 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KCAL-TV (9) | 9 · VHF-high | 18 miles northeast |
| KSCI (Shop LC 18) | 18 · UHF | 18 miles northeast |
| KABC-TV (ABC 7) | 7 · VHF-high | 19 miles northeast |
| KRCA (EstrellaTV 62) | 7 · VHF-high | 19 miles northeast |
| KNBC (NBC 4) | 36 · UHF | 19 miles northeast |
| KVEA (Telemundo 52) | 25 · UHF | 19 miles northeast |
| KTTV (FOX 11) NextGen TV only | 11 · VHF-high | 19 miles northeast |
| KCOP-TV (MyNet 13) NextGen TV only | 13 · VHF-high | 19 miles northeast |
| KCET (28) | 28 · UHF | 19 miles northeast |
| KLCS (PBS 58) | 28 · UHF | 19 miles northeast |
| KTLA (CW 5) | 35 · UHF | 19 miles northeast |
| KTBN-TV (TBN 40) | 33 · UHF | 19 miles northeast |
| KNLA-CD (20) | 32 · UHF | 19 miles northeast |
| KNET-CD (25) | 32 · UHF | 19 miles northeast |
| KCBS-TV (CBS 2) | 31 · UHF | 19 miles northeast |
| KDOC-TV (56) | 12 · VHF-high | 19 miles northeast |
| KVCR-DT (PBS 24) | 5 · VHF-low | 58 miles east |
Also in the Los Angeles market but more than 70 miles from Los Angeles: KVME-TV (233 miles north).
The VHF stations to plan for
KSCN-TV (22), KWHY (63) and KVCR-DT (PBS 24) broadcast on VHF-low (real channels 4, 4 and 5). That’s the hardest band for small antennas: it needs long elements, and indoor or flat antennas often miss it even close to the tower.
KCAL-TV (9), KABC-TV (ABC 7), KRCA (EstrellaTV 62), KTTV (FOX 11), KCOP-TV (MyNet 13) and KDOC-TV (56) broadcast on VHF-high (real channels 9, 7, 7, 11, 13 and 12). If those drop out while UHF stations come in fine, the antenna is the likely cause: pick one that lists VHF-high reception, or extend the rabbit-ear dipoles on an indoor model.
Which type to buy
- Indoor antenna: fine if you’re within roughly 20 miles of the towers with a window facing them, and if it lists VHF reception. Put it high and near the window.
- Attic or outdoor antenna: the better choice beyond about 20–25 miles, behind hills, or for the VHF stations. Outdoors beats attic; roofing and insulation absorb signal.
- Preamplifier: helps with long cable runs, several TVs on one antenna, or fringe distances. It can make things worse if you’re very close to the towers, because strong signals overload it.
- Skip anything sold as a special “4K”, “HD” or “NextGen TV” antenna. Antennas don’t have formats; only the bands and the gain matter.
Questions
What kind of antenna do I need in Los Angeles?
You need an antenna rated for VHF-high (channels 7–13) and UHF; many flat "HD" antennas are weak on VHF-high (add VHF-low only if you want KSCN-TV, KWHY and KVCR-DT). From most of Los Angeles an indoor antenna by a window often works; go to the attic or roof if you're in a basement, behind a hill or want the VHF stations.
Which way should I point my antenna in Los Angeles?
The towers sit in one direction: 18 miles northeast of Los Angeles. A directional antenna aimed northeast should get them all. Exceptions: KVCR-DT (58 miles east).
Why can't my antenna get KSCN-TV (22) or KWHY (63)?
KSCN-TV (22), KWHY (63), KVCR-DT (PBS 24), KCAL-TV (9), KABC-TV (ABC 7), KRCA (EstrellaTV 62), KTTV (FOX 11), KCOP-TV (MyNet 13) and KDOC-TV (56) broadcast on VHF (real channels 4, 4, 5, 9, 7, 7, 11, 13 and 12), even though your TV shows a different channel number. Many flat and "HD" indoor antennas are designed mainly for UHF and pick up VHF poorly. An antenna with longer VHF elements, mounted higher, usually fixes it.
Do I need a new antenna for NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) in Los Angeles?
No. NextGen TV uses the same channels, so any antenna that gets your stations today will get their NextGen TV versions. What you need is a TV or converter box with a 3.0 tuner. In Los Angeles, the NextGen TV signals come from KTTV and KCOP-TV's transmitters.
Check your exact address
Distances don’t account for hills or buildings. For a signal prediction at your address, try the FCC’s DTV reception maps or the RabbitEars signal search.
Los Angeles: NextGen TV status and shutoff timeline →
Tower locations: FCC Licensing and Management System (each station’s latest filing). Zip and city locations: USPS zip code centroids. Distances are straight-line from the center of Los Angeles.