Houston Channel Numbers: What Channel Is ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in Houston?

Houston channel numbers list

This table gives the number your TV shows for each Houston network, the station behind it, and the signal it actually arrives on. Data comes from the RabbitEars Houston listing and the FCC station database, checked October 17, 2026.

Network	Channel	Station	Regular signal	NextGen copy	On IPTVZ
NBC	2	KPRC	UHF 35	UHF 34	Yes
PBS	8	KUHT	VHF 8	UHF 34	Yes
CBS	11 and 11.11	KHOU	VHF 11; 11.11 on UHF 33	UHF 34	Yes
ABC	13	KTRK	VHF 13	UHF 19	Yes
MyNetworkTV	20	KTXH	UHF 26 (on KRIV's signal)	UHF 19	Yes
FOX	26	KRIV	UHF 26	UHF 19	Yes
The CW	39	KIAH	UHF 35 (on KPRC's signal)	UHF 34	Yes
Univision	45	KXLN	UHF 30	UHF 19	Yes
Telemundo	47	KTMD	UHF 22	UHF 34	Yes
UniMás	67	KFTH	UHF 36	UHF 19	Yes

The channel is the number your TV displays, also called the virtual channel. The regular signal is the frequency it really uses. Every TV can receive it with the right antenna. The NextGen copy is an ATSC 3.0 version that only NextGen TVs and tuners can show. For every station's full details, see our list of Houston TV stations.

What channel is ABC in Houston?

ABC is channel 13 in Houston, station KTRK-TV, known as ABC 13. It broadcasts on VHF channel 13, the same number it shows. Its free subchannels are Localish on 13.2, Charge! on 13.3 and QVC on 13.4. KTRK also sends BUZZR, the game-show channel, which your TV lists as 20.4.

ABC 13 is the Houston channel antennas lose most often, because VHF is harder for small indoor antennas. There is no regular UHF copy of it. The second copy on UHF 19 is NextGen only, so an older TV will not find it. If ABC 13 drops out, BUZZR on 20.4 usually goes with it, since both ride on the same signal.

What channel is CBS in Houston?

CBS is channel 11 in Houston, station KHOU, known as Channel 11. It broadcasts on VHF channel 11. Its subchannels are Shop LC on 11.2, True Crime Network on 11.3, Comet on 11.4 and ROAR on 11.5. KHOU also carries Antenna TV, listed as 39.2, and HSN2 as 39.4.

Houston has a useful backup for CBS. Station KTBU in Conroe rebroadcasts KHOU on UHF channel 33, and your TV shows it as 11.11. According to KTBU's Wikipedia entry, this exists so viewers with only a UHF antenna can still get KHOU. It is the same CBS programming as 11.1.

Our finding: CBS 11 is the only one of Houston's three VHF stations with a regular UHF copy. If your antenna drops 11.1 but finds 11.11, keep 11.11 as your CBS channel. ABC 13 and PBS 8 have no such backup for older TVs.

What channel is NBC in Houston?

NBC is channel 2 in Houston, station KPRC-TV, known as Local 2. Your TV shows 2, but KPRC actually broadcasts on UHF channel 35, according to the FCC. That makes NBC one of the easiest Houston stations to receive. Its subchannels include Start TV on 2.2 and Heroes & Icons on 2.3.

The KPRC signal also carries CW 39 for station KIAH. So if NBC 2 comes in, CW 39 usually does too.

What channel is FOX in Houston?

FOX is channel 26 in Houston, station KRIV, known as Fox 26. It broadcasts on UHF channel 26. Its subchannels are Catchy Comedy on 26.2 and FOX Weather on 26.3. KRIV's signal also carries My 20, which is why My 20 and Fox 26 tend to come in, or fail, together.

What channel is PBS in Houston?

Houston PBS is channel 8, station KUHT, run by Houston Public Media. It broadcasts on VHF channel 8, so it can be weak on small antennas like ABC 13. Its subchannels are Create on 8.2, PBS Kids 24/7 on 8.3, NHK World on 8.4 and World Channel on 8.6. Channel 8.5 is Sight into Sound, an audio service. KUHT also sends The Nest, listed as 39.3.

CW 39 and My 20: borrowed signals

CW 39 and My 20 no longer use their own towers for regular TVs. In December 2021, KIAH and KTXH became Houston's two NextGen TV transmitters, as TV Tech reported. Their regular channels moved onto partner stations: CW 39 now rides on KPRC's signal and My 20 on KRIV's.

The numbers after the dot can mislead, too. The station sending a subchannel is not always the one its number suggests:

Your TV shows	Channel	Really sent by
20.2	Movies!	Univision 45 (KXLN)
20.3	QVC2	UniMás 67 (KFTH)
20.4	BUZZR	ABC 13 (KTRK)
39.2	Antenna TV	CBS 11 (KHOU)
39.3	The Nest	PBS 8 (KUHT)
39.5	Rewind TV	Telemundo 47 (KTMD)

So when Antenna TV on 39.2 breaks up, aim for CBS 11, not CW 39. That alone can save you ten minutes of pointing the antenna at the wrong tower.

Spanish-language and other free channels

Houston's Spanish-language stations are Univision 45, Telemundo 47, UniMás 67 and Estrella TV 61, all on UHF. Subchannels include UniMás again on 45.2, ION Mystery on 45.3, TeleXitos on 47.2, COZI TV on 47.4 and Estrella News on 61.2. Our guide to Spanish-language TV in Houston covers prices and the Spanish sports channels.

Two more stations carry a lot of free channels:

• ION, channel 49 (KPXB, Conroe): Bounce TV 49.2, Laff 49.3, ION Plus 49.4, Busted 49.5, Game Show Central 49.6, Court TV 49.7 and Grit 49.8.
• MeTV, channel 51 (KYAZ, Katy): MeTV+ 51.2, Dabl 51.3, Story Television 51.4, West 51.5 and MeTV Toons 51.6.

Religious and shopping stations fill most of the rest, including TBN on 14 and Daystar on 22.

Why your channel numbers changed

Houston channel numbers usually change for one of three reasons: a station moved its signal, your TV found NextGen copies, or a weak channel dropped out of the scan.

1. A station moved its signal. Your TV shows the same number, but the frequency behind it changed. Until you rescan, the TV looks in the old place and finds nothing.
2. Your TV found NextGen copies. NextGen TVs can list a station twice, once from its regular signal and once from UHF 19 or UHF 34. Both are the same programming.
3. A weak channel dropped out. A scan only saves the channels that come in at that moment. A VHF station that was weak that minute disappears from the list.

To rescan, open your TV's settings, choose Channels, then Auto scan or Auto program. Pick Antenna or Air, not Cable. Rescan again after you move the antenna. The FCC reception map shows which way to point it from your address. Still missing channels? Our guide to why some Texas channels won't come in goes deeper.

Channel numbers on cable, streaming and IPTV

Cable and satellite providers set their own channel numbers, so FOX 26 is not always 26 on your box. The numbers can differ between providers, packages and even neighborhoods. Use your provider's on-screen guide or its channel lineup for your address.

Streaming services and IPTV skip numbers almost entirely. You pick channels by name from a list. On IPTVZ, Houston's locals appear as ABC 13 Houston (KTRK), CBS 11 Houston (KHOU), NBC 2 Houston (KPRC), FOX 26 Houston (KRIV), CW 39 Houston (KIAH) and My 20 Houston (KTXH). Univision and Telemundo Houston are there too. You can find any of them by typing "Houston" into the search.

The national versions of many subchannel networks are also in the IPTVZ lineup, including Antenna TV, Comet, Charge!, BUZZR, Bounce TV, Laff, Court TV, Grit, Cozi, Catchy Comedy and FOX Weather. Every channel arrives over your internet, so VHF reception and rescans stop mattering. Our full IPTVZ channel list shows the rest.

IPTVZ plan	Price	Per month
3 months	$29.99	About $10.00
12 months	$74.99	About $6.25
24 months	$129.99	About $5.42

Prices from the IPTVZ plans page, October 17, 2026. Our guide to IPTV in Houston explains the internet speed and devices you need.

Houston channel numbers FAQ

What channel is 13 in Houston?

Channel 13 in Houston is ABC 13, station KTRK-TV. Its subchannels are Localish on 13.2, Charge! on 13.3 and QVC on 13.4.

What channel is FOX on in Houston?

FOX is channel 26 in Houston, station KRIV, known as Fox 26. On cable or satellite the number can differ, so check your provider's guide.

What is channel 20 in Houston?

Channel 20 is My 20, station KTXH, a MyNetworkTV station. For regular TVs it is sent on FOX 26's signal. Channels 20.2 to 20.4 belong to other stations.

What channel is 39 in Houston?

Channel 39 is CW 39, station KIAH, the Houston CW station. Its regular signal is sent from NBC 2's transmitter on UHF 35.

Why does my TV show CBS on both 11.1 and 11.11?

Channel 11.11 is KHOU rebroadcast by KTBU in Conroe on UHF channel 33. It is the same CBS programming, so keep whichever one comes in better.

Why did ABC 13 disappear after a rescan?

ABC 13 broadcasts on VHF channel 13, which small indoor antennas often struggle with. Use an antenna rated for VHF, place it higher and rescan. Its UHF 19 copy only works on NextGen TVs.

Is Houston PBS channel 8?

Yes. Houston PBS is channel 8, station KUHT. Create is on 8.2 and PBS Kids 24/7 on 8.3.

The short version

• Houston's big four are NBC 2, CBS 11, ABC 13 and FOX 26.
• CBS 11 has a UHF copy on 11.11; ABC 13 and PBS 8 do not.
• CW 39 and My 20 ride on NBC 2's and FOX 26's signals.
• Cable boxes use their own numbers; IPTV lists the channels by name.

Tired of rescanning? Try a free 24-hour IPTVZ trial, then pick a plan from $29.99 for 3 months.