Overview
Channel 35 refers to the UHF radio‑frequency (RF) band 596–602 MHz allocated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for digital television broadcasting in the United States. Television stations that transmit their digital signal on this physical channel are commonly grouped in reference works and regulatory databases under the heading “Channel 35 digital TV stations in the United States.”
Regulatory context
- The FCC assigns physical (RF) channels to full‑power, Class A, and low‑power television stations as part of its spectrum‑allocation framework.
- Since the 2009 digital transition, all full‑power stations broadcast a digital multiplex on a single RF channel; many stations retain their historic “virtual” channel number (PSIP) that may differ from the physical channel.
- Channel 35 is part of the UHF band that was repacked in the 2016–2017 FCC incentive auction; stations formerly on other UHF channels may have been reassigned to 35, and some stations on 35 may have moved to different channels during the repack.
Typical station categories
| Station type | Example (call sign) | Location | License class | Virtual channel (PSIP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full‑power | K35CK-D | Lubbock, Texas | Full‑power (digital) | 35 |
| Class A | K35KJ-D | Billings, Montana | Class A | 31 |
| Low‑power | K35DG-D | Payson, Arizona | Low‑power | 35 |
| Low‑power | W35CQ-D | Atlanta, Georgia | Low‑power | 35 |
The above examples illustrate the diversity of station classes that may appear on RF channel 35. The complete, up‑to‑date list of all stations using this channel is maintained in FCC databases and on publicly edited compilations such as Wikipedia’s “Channel 35 digital TV stations in the United States” page.
Notable full‑power stations on channel 35 (as of the latest FCC filing)
- KUSA (channel 9 virtual) – Denver, Colorado – operates its digital signal on RF channel 35.
- WRAL-TV (channel 5 virtual) – Raleigh, North Carolina – transmits on RF channel 35 after the post‑repack repacking.
- WTVF (channel 5 virtual) – Nashville, Tennessee – uses RF channel 35 for its digital broadcast.
Low‑power and translator stations
Numerous low‑power (LP) and translator stations serve rural or underserved markets on channel 35. These stations typically rebroadcast the programming of a parent full‑power station and may carry different virtual channel numbers.
Technical characteristics
- Frequency range: 596 MHz – 602 MHz (UHF).
- Bandwidth per 6 MHz channel (ATSC 1.0) or 8 MHz (ATSC 3.0) depending on the standard adopted by the station.
- Propagation: UHF signals have line‑of‑sight characteristics with moderate building penetration, suitable for both urban and suburban coverage areas.
Current status
The set of stations operating on RF channel 35 is subject to change due to:
- Ongoing FCC spectrum repacking and incentive‑auction settlements.
- Voluntary channel moves by stations seeking technical or market advantages.
- Transition of some stations to the ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) standard, which may involve channel sharing agreements.
For the most recent and exhaustive list, consult the FCC’s TV Query tool or the latest revision of the Wikipedia article titled “Channel 35 digital TV stations in the United States.”
