Yes, we have high definition television! Contrary to what you may have heard, a wide variety of free off-air digital HDTV programming is available in the Greater Toronto and Buffalo areas. All you need is an antenna and an ATSC receiver - and your television may already have one of those built in! On this page you’ll find a list of all current Canadian and American channels for the region, their status and power levels, plus a location map of all HDTV transmitters currently broadcasting in the Southern Ontario and Western New York areas.

For answers to common questions, please see the Toronto/Buffalo HDTV FAQ.

Comments, suggestions, corrections, or channel updates? Speak out in the HDTV Forum or send me an email!

Virtual Actual Network Graph Power Height Final Location 67-1 7-1 METV WBBZ-DT 26.9 kW 577' Concord (Buffalo)   (720p/2.0) At the beginning of August 2011, the troubled WNGS channel officially changed their call letters to WBBZ ("Buffalo Buzz") and dropped their RTN affiliation, in an attempt to lauch themselves as the only local-owned Buffalo station. They are also now a MeTV (Memorable Entertainment TV) affilate, which carries classic sitcoms, dramas and commercials from the 1950s though 1980s. There are currently no plans to increase transmission power. 67-2   This TV (480i/2.0) AKA "This TV Network". A general entertainment channel primarily carrying movies. 67-3   METV (480i/2.0) 67-4   Daystar Television Network (480i/2.0) As part of the deal for selling WNGS/WBBZ, they will continue to carry Daystar religious network programming on a subchannel for a period of 10 years. 9-1 9-1 CTV CFTO-DT 10.8 kW 1532' CN Tower (Toronto)   (1080i/5.1 & 2.0) Now broadcasting on VHF channel 9. Those of you with UHF-only antennas may find this channel difficult or impossible to receive, however I am having good success in Markham. CFTO is the TVGOS (TV Guide) host for Toronto, but it is currently unknown whether they have started broadcasting this in digital. 3-1 10-1 CTV Two CKVR-DT 7.1 kW 1122' Barrie   (1080i/5.1) CKVR may be the very last Toronto-area network to begin broadcasting in high definition, but they're doing it with a bang including a name change to "CTV Two" and much higher quality programming. As it is broadcasting on VHF channel 10, those of you with UHF-only antennas may find this channel difficult or impossible to receive, however I am having good success in Markham. 11-1 11-1 CHCH CHCH-DT 6.1 kW 1175' Hamilton   (1080i/5.1) As of August 15th 2011, CHCH has switched from broadcasting on UHF 18 to VHF 11. Those of you with UHF-only antennas may find this channel difficult or impossible to receive. Most users are reporting a greatly reduced signal strength, including the complete inability to receive the new signal. Dropping the easy-to-receive UHF channel was a mistake, as was reducing their VHF transmission power by 98%. Owned since September 2009 by Channel Zero (Movieola, Silver Screen Classics) CHCH now exclusively broadcasts local news during the day and movies at night. 13-1 13-1 CTV (SWO) CKCO-DT 12 kW 957' Kitchener   (1080i/5.1) Now broadcasting on VHF 13. Those of you with UHF-only antennas may find this channel difficult or impossible to receive. 29-1 14-1 Fox WUTV-DT 1000 kW 981' Grand Island (Buffalo)   (720p/5.1) Thanks to its 1000kW power, WUTV is one of Buffalo's most reliable signals - and they even have a great quality SD upconversion. Since upgrading from 35kW their transmitter is now directional and sends very little power to the North, with reports indicating that it can be difficult to receive in the north-west. Shows some syndicated content in HD, including Two and a Half Men and Seinfeld. As of March 2010, has discontinued the SD subchannel. 29-2   The Country Network (480i/2.0) TCN broadcasts country music videos. Launched on WUTV in October, 2010. 15-1 15-1 Sun TV CKXT-DT 8.2 kW 634' 493 kW 1109' Hamilton   (1080i/2.0) This, along with the London and Toronto transmitters, will be shut down in October 2011. 19-1 19-1 TV Ontario CICA-DT 107 kW 1611' CN Tower (Toronto)   (1080i/2.0) TVO flash cut from their analog signal to digital on August 18th 2011, one day earlier than planned. So far the signal seems strong. 5-1 20-1 CBC CBLT-DT 38 kW 1611' 100 kW 1640' CN Tower (Toronto)   (720p/5.1 & 2.0) Note that as of September 2011, CBLT has changed from broadcasting in 1080i to 720p format, supposedly to maximize satellite transponder efficiency. Although most viewers report little change to picture quality, it is definitely much softer to my eye with more visible "jaggies". Remember that you can catch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy in HD on CBC, although they show no commitment to a reliable broadcast schedule. 51-1 23-1 ION WPXJ-DT 455 kW 906' Batavia (Buffalo)   (720p/2.0) Began broadcasting digitally in the vacated channel 23 as of June 12, 2009. One year later in June 2010, they've upgraded their primary channel to 720p resolution and dropped the 51-4 religious subchannel. The situation is a little confusing now - with "channel 23" broadcasting on 32-1, and "channel 51" broadcasting on 23-1... 51-2   qubo (480i/2.0) Childrens' programming made up of a 6-hour block of shows repeated 4 times each day. 51-3   ION Life (480i/2.0) Lifestyle programming: health and wellness, cooking, home decor, travel and more. 25-1 25-1 CBC French CBLFT-DT 99 kW 1640' CN Tower (Toronto)   (720p/5.1) French programming from Radio-Canada. As with CBC, a huge amount of content is shown in HD. Moved slightly from channel 24 to channel 25. Note that as of September 2011, CBLFT has changed from 1080i to 720p format, supposedly to maximize satellite transponder efficiency. 26-1 26-1 TCT WNYB-DT 234 kW 1519' 1000 kW Jamestown   (480i/2.0) Religious network. WNYB has applied for an increase to 1000 kW transmission power. 26-2   TCT-HD (1080i/2.0) Interestingly, the high definition channel is a subchannel rather than the primary channel. Occasionally shows old TV shows such as Bonanza. 26-3   TCT Kids (480i/2.0) AKA "TCT Family". Christian youth programming, added January 2011. 26-4   TCT La Fuente (480i/2.0) Spanish religious programming. Added to WNYB in August 2011. 23-1 32-1 The CW WNLO-DT 1000 kW 994' Grand Island (Buffalo)   (1080i/5.1) One of the two highest powered HDTV channels in the region and very reliable for both Canadians and Americans. 2-1 33-1 NBC WGRZ-DT 480 kW 968' South Wales (Buffalo)   (1080i/5.1) WGRZ can be one of the more difficult channels from south Buffalo to receive reliably, even compared to the lower-powered WKBW. As of March 2009 has upgraded full time to 5.1 audio. In September 2011, the 2-3 RTN subchannel was dropped. 2-2   NBC Universal Sports (480i/2.0) Fairly blurry image quality, although this appears to be more related to the source than the compression. Note that this channel is expected to be dropped as it is becoming a pay-for cable station. 36-1 36-1 Crossroads CITS-DT 20 kW 1110' 493 kW Hamilton   (1080i/5.1) Has moved slightly from channel 35 to 36 and increased power, making this difficult-to-receive channel somewhat better. 7-1 38-1 ABC WKBW-DT 358 kW 1420' 723 kW Colden (Buffalo)   (720p/5.1) Despite WKBW's power level and distance, their signal has been unexpectedly reliable for me personally - better than the higher powered WIVB or WGRZ. Former channel 7-3, WCSN SD "World Championship Sports Network" is no longer being carried. Heavy echo effect used to matrix local 2.0 audio to 5.1 surround can be distracting. 4-1 39-1 CBS WIVB-DT 790 kW 1368' Colden (Buffalo)   (1080i/5.1) Considering their high power levels, WIVB is inexplicably one of the most difficult of the 3 South Buffalo channels to receive reliably from my location. Otherwise, all of their early growing pains regarding sound and picture issues have been corrected. 41-1 41-1 Global CIII-DT 100 kW 1650' CN Tower (Toronto)   (1080i/5.1) Now broadcasting from channel 41. Global shows a wide range of high definition content, although I personally find their image a touch on the soft side compared to other stations and occasionally suffers from visible compression artifacts. Note to Global engineers: please turn off the volume compression! 17-1 43-1 PBS WNED-DT 156 kW 1076' Grand Island (Buffalo)   (1080i/5.1 & 2.0) As close to rock solid 24 x 7 HDTV as you can get. Or, at least it was constant HDTV until the shift from the PBS National HD feed to WNED's own feed in February 2009. The end result is more local and special programming, but far less HD. WNED is the Digital TVGOS (TV Guide) host for Buffalo. 17-2   PBS SD (480i/2.0 & 1.0) WNED-SD channel duplicate. With the shift from the national to local feeds, this channel seems unnecessary. 17-3   Think Bright (480i/2.0 & 1.0) WNED-Th, Kids' educational channel.   AUD WNED-FM Classical 94.5 (2.0) Secondary audio program.   AUD WNED-AM 970 (1.0) Secondary audio program. 57-1 44-1 Citytv CITY-DT 15 kW 1031' 21 kW 1645' BMO Building (Toronto)   (1080i/5.1) CITY has moved from channel 53 to 44, now broadcasting from the BMO building. Plans are to move to the CN Tower at a higher power level and elevation. 47-1 47-1 OMNI.1 CFMT-DT 15 kW 1031' 22.2 kW 1645' BMO Building (Toronto)   (1080i/2.0) OMNI.1 has moved from channel 64 to 47, now broadcasting from the BMO building. Plans are to move to the CN Tower at a higher power level and elevation.   AUD 680 News (1.0) AM news radio station available as a secondary audio program (labelled "French"). 49-1 49-1 My TV WNYO-DT 198 kW 1165' Wyoming (Buffalo)   (720p/5.1) On June 12th 2009, WNYO successfully switched to broadcasting on true digital channel 49-1. The transmitter has also been moved from Grand Island back to its original location near Wyoming/Erie. From my location the signal is no longer nearly as strong, but their core Buffalo viewership should see an improvement. As of March 2010, has discontinued the SD subchannel. 49-2   theCoolTV (480i/2.0) Added mid-September 2010 (and not to be confused with Canada's "Cool TV" cable channel). All music video linup, plus a small amount of educational/informative. 69-1 51-1 OMNI.2 CJMT-DT 15 kW 1031' 18.1 kW 1645' BMO Building (Toronto)   (1080i/2.0) OMNI.2 has moved from channel 44 to 51, now broadcasting from the BMO building. Plans are to move to the CN Tower at a higher power level and elevation. 66-1 66-1 Sun TV CKXT-DT 3 kW 1503' 16 kW CN Tower (Toronto)   (1080i/5.1) Although CKXT was supposed to move from channel 66 to 40, as the station will be going dark in October 2011 they have remained temporarily on channel 66.

You can also view a very big map or a table of distances.

Have cable service and a QAM-enabled tuner? See what you can watch for free on: Cogeco GTA, Rogers GTA, Time Warner Cable (Buffalo Suburban).

Depending on your location and antenna capabilities, you may also receive these stations:

Virtual Actual Network Graph Power Height Location 10-1 10-1 CTV Two CFPL-DT 45 kW 991' London   (1080i/5.1) Began broadcasting in digital on August 31, 2011. This channel is also broadcast from a repeater in Wingham. 10-1 10-1 NBC WHEC-DT 18.1 kW 443' Rochester   (1080i/2.0) Active full power. Has returned to broadcasting on VHF channel 10. 10-2   MeTV (480i/2.0) Launching... soon? Already? Let me know! 10-3   NBC Weather Plus (480i/2.0) 13-1 13-1 ABC WHAM-DT 30.0 kW 499' Rochester   (720p/5.1) Active full power. Has returned to broadcasting on VHF channel 13. Local news now in HD. 13-2   The CW 720p/5.1) CW-WHAM - now broadcasting dual HD channels! 21-1 16-1 PBS WXXI-DT 180 kW 427' Rochester   (1080i/2.0) A surprisingly strong signal in the Toronto area, despite its relatively low power. Due to the number of subchannels and the 1080i resolution of its main channel, compression on HD shows is quite apparent. 21-2   PBS World (480i/2.0) WXXI-W 21-3   PBS Create (480i/2.0) WXXI-C, kids' educational.   AUD WXXI-AM 1370 (1.0) Can be difficult to receive as it is not properly configured. 31-1 28-1 Fox WUHF-DT 320 kW 528' Rochester   (720p/5.1) Active full power. 31-2   theCoolTV (480i/2.0) An all music video linup, plus a small amount of educational/informative. 8-1 45-1 CBS WROC-DT 1000 kW 446' Rochester   (1080i/5.1) Recently switched to full power with a remarkably strong signal. 8-2   Bounce TV (480i/2.0) Promoted as "the first 24/7 digital multicast broadcast network created exclusively for African Americans". N/A MyTV WBGT 40 10.0 kW 449' Rochester   Classified as a low powered station; no digital conversion plans are in sight.

These channels extend the reach of major stations by rebroadcasting their signal in other locations. Some of these can be received quite easily in the GTA.