You’ve finally done it. You cut the cord, ditched the $200 cable bill, and hooked up a shiny new antenna to your TV. But then you realize something's missing. You go to watch the big game or the evening news and you're staring at a "No Signal" screen because you have no idea where the local CBS affiliate actually lives.
Honestly, it's a bit of a mess. Unlike cable where a network might be on the same channel for everyone in a specific zip code, over-the-air (OTA) television is a wild west of local frequencies and historical "virtual" numbers.
Basically, the answer to what channel is cbs with antenna depends entirely on your backyard. It's not one-size-fits-all.
Why Your CBS Channel Number is a Moving Target
Television history is weird. Back in the day, stations were assigned "physical" channels based on the radio frequency they used. When digital TV took over, the FCC let stations keep their old, famous numbers—like Channel 2 in New York—even if they moved to a completely different frequency behind the scenes. These are called Virtual Channels.
In most major markets, CBS is found on the lower end of the dial (VHF). But that’s not a hard rule. You’ve got cities where CBS is way up in the 40s or 60s.
CBS Channel Numbers in Major U.S. Cities
To save you some clicking, here is a quick look at where the "Eye" network hides in some of the biggest markets. If you live in one of these areas, these are the numbers you’ll likely see on your screen after a scan:
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- New York, NY: Channel 2 (WCBS)
- Los Angeles, CA: Channel 2 (KCBS)
- Chicago, IL: Channel 2 (WBBM)
- Philadelphia, PA: Channel 3 (KYW)
- Dallas-Fort Worth, TX: Channel 11 (KTVT)
- Atlanta, GA: Channel 46 (WANF)
- Boston, MA: Channel 4 (WBZ)
- Washington, D.C.: Channel 9 (WUSA)
- San Francisco, CA: Channel 5 (KPIX)
- Houston, TX: Channel 11 (KHOU)
- Phoenix, AZ: Channel 5 (KPHO)
- Tampa, FL: Channel 10 (WTSP)
- Seattle, WA: Channel 7 (KIRO)
- Miami, FL: Channel 4 (WFOR)
See the pattern? There isn't one.
One city is 2, the next is 46. You can’t just guess. You need to know your local station's call sign.
Finding the Exact Channel for Your Zip Code
If you aren't in a top-10 metro area, you'll need to use a locator tool. Don't worry, they're free.
The most reliable way to figure out what channel is cbs with antenna in your specific neck of the woods is to use the FCC’s DTV Reception Map. You just plug in your address, and it shows you exactly which direction the CBS tower is and what channel number it’s broadcasting on.
Another great resource is RabbitEars.info. It looks like a website from 2004, but it is the gold standard for signal data. It tells you the "Display Channel" (what you see on your TV) versus the "Physical Channel" (the actual frequency).
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Why the "Physical Channel" Matters
This is where people get tripped up. Most "leaf" style indoor antennas are great at picking up UHF signals (channels 14-51). However, many CBS affiliates still broadcast on VHF (channels 2-13). If your CBS is on Channel 2, 7, or 9, and you have a tiny indoor antenna that looks like a sheet of paper, you might struggle to get a clear picture.
You might need an antenna with "ears" or a larger footprint to grab those lower frequencies.
The "Great Rescan" of 2026: Why Your CBS Channel Might Disappear
Television is currently going through its biggest shakeup since 2009. It’s called ATSC 3.0, or "NextGen TV."
Broadcasters are moving things around. Sometimes, a station will change its signal frequency to make room for 4K broadcasts or mobile data. When this happens, your TV will lose the channel.
It hasn't "gone away." Your TV just doesn't know where it moved to.
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The fix? Rescan. Go into your TV settings, find the "Tuner" or "Channel" menu, and hit "Auto-Program" or "Channel Scan." You should do this every few months anyway. New sub-channels (like MeTV, Grit, or StartTV) pop up all the time. CBS stations often carry these as 2.2, 2.3, etc.
Troubleshooting Your CBS Signal
If you know for a fact that CBS is on Channel 5 in your city but your TV keeps skipping it, don't panic. There are a few likely culprits.
- The Building Blocks: Brick, stone, and radiant heat barriers in your attic are signal killers. If your antenna is behind a wall of stone, CBS isn't getting through. Move it to a window.
- The Amplifier Trap: Many cheap antennas come with a "booster" or amplifier. If you live close to the broadcast tower (within 10-15 miles), an amplifier can actually "overload" your tuner. Try unplugging the power to the amp and see if CBS suddenly appears.
- Multi-Path Interference: This is a fancy way of saying the signal is bouncing off a nearby skyscraper or a giant tree before it hits your antenna. Moving the antenna just six inches to the left can sometimes solve this.
- The VHF Problem: Like I mentioned, CBS loves the VHF band. If you have an indoor antenna, try extending the telescoping dipoles (the "bunny ears") if it has them.
The Future: Will CBS Stay Free?
There's been a lot of chatter lately about broadcasters wanting to move away from free airwaves. In late 2025, the FCC began discussing rules that would allow stations to sunset the old ATSC 1.0 signal (the one your current TV uses) in favor of the new NextGen TV standard.
The good news is that for now, federal law requires them to keep a free version available. But you might eventually need a new tuner box if you have an older TV.
Honestly, the "Eye" network isn't going anywhere. It remains one of the most-watched channels for sports—especially the NFL—and that keeps the towers humming.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Identify your local affiliate: Visit RabbitEars.info and enter your zip code to find the "Display Channel" for CBS in your area.
- Check your hardware: If your local CBS is on a channel between 2 and 13, ensure your antenna is "VHF-capable."
- Run a fresh scan: Open your TV's settings menu and perform an "Auto-Program" scan to lock in the latest frequency changes.
- Reposition if needed: If the signal is weak, move your antenna to a window facing the direction of the broadcast towers listed on the FCC reception map.