Twin Cities broadcast TV viewers trying to sort out reception problems can be forgiven if they have trouble figuring out where their signal is supposed to be coming from.
Three virtual channels (2, 5, and 9) mix channels from separate transmitters. Meanwhile, some stations’ former analog channel numbers are now used by a different station’s RF broadcast channel.
For example, KTCI used to broadcast on analog channel 17 but now broadcasts on RF channel 23, remapping to virtual channel 2.3 but carried on satellite channel 17. Meanwhile, while WUCW’s channel 23.1 actually originates on RF channel 22, and a low-power TV station uses channel 17.
Confusing, huh?
Here is a look at where Twin Cities TV stations transmit, sorted by their actual RF broadcast channel. The the full-power metro area stations are in bold.
RF | Station | Virtual channels |
9 | KMSP | 9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.8, 9.9 (FOX), 9.10 (FOX 9+) |
13 | KTCJ-LD | (construction permit) |
14 | K14RB-D | 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4 |
15 | KWJM-LD | 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4 |
16 | KPXM-TV | 41.1 (ION), 41.2, 41.3, 41.4, 41.5, 41.6, 41.7, 41.8 |
17 | KMWE-LD | 17.1, 17.2 (NW metro) |
18 | KHVM-LD | (construction permit) |
19 | KKTW-LD W19EN-D | 19.1, 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5 (west and central metro) 28.1, 28.2, 28.3, 28.4 (east metro) |
20 | KMBD-LD | 43.1, 43.2, 43.3, 43.4, 43.5, 43.6, 43.7 |
21 | WUMN-LD | 21.1 (Univision) |
22 | WUCW | 23.1 (CW), 23.2, 23.3, 23.4, 23.5, 23.6 |
23 | KTCI-TV | 2.2, 2.3 (PBS), 2.6 |
24 | None | |
25 | KJNK-LD | 25.1 (Telemundo), 25.2, 25.3, 25.4, 25.5, 25.6 |
26 | WDMI-LD | 62.1, 62.2 |
27 | WHWC-TV | 28.1 (PBS), 28.2, 28.3, 28.4 (east metro) |
28 | K28PQ-D | 38.1, 38.2, 38.3, 38.4, 38.5 (NW metro) |
29 | WFTC | 9.1 (FOX), 9.2 (FOX 9+), 9.3, 9.7 |
30 | KSTC-TV | 5.2 (45TV), 5.3, 5.4, 5.6 |
31 | KARE | 11.1 (NBC), 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.7, 11.8 |
32 | WCCO-TV | 4.1 (CBS), 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 |
33 | K33LN-D | 33.1, 33.2, 33.3, 33.4, 33.5, 33.6, 33.7, 33.8 |
34 | KTCA-TV | 2.1 (PBS), 2.4, 2.5 |
35 | KSTP-TV | 5.1 (ABC), 5.5, 5.7 |
36 | KMQV-LD | 49.1, 49.2, 49.3, 49.4 |