Complete Sacramento TV Schedule & Local Broadcast Guide (2026 Edition)

Navigating local television listings across the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto Designated Market Area (DMA #20) requires an understanding of over-the-air (OTA) digital signals, local cable channel maps, and streaming availability. Whether you are searching for prime-time network lineups, early morning local news, live sports broadcasts for regional teams, or NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) signals, having a reliable schedule roadmap ensures you never miss critical programming.

This guide covers over-the-air broadcast channels, regional sports telecasts, cable mappings, and streaming availability for residents throughout Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, and San Joaquin counties.

Navigating the Sacramento TV Listings: Major Broadcast Networks and Local Stations

The Sacramento television market is served by major national networks alongside high-performing independent stations. Most primary broadcast transmitters originate from the Walnut Grove tower farm in southern Sacramento County, providing broad coverage across Northern California's Central Valley.

KCRA Channel 3 (NBC)

Owned by Hearst Television, KCRA 3 is Sacramento’s long-standing news ratings leader. It broadcasts network daytime dramas, prime-time NBC shows, late-night entertainment, and Sunday Night Football.

• Local News Blocks: Weekdays 4:30 AM – 7:00 AM, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM, 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM, 11:00 PM – 11:35 PM.
• Popular Syndicated Shows: Live with Kelly and Mark, Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune.

KXTV Channel 10 (ABC)

Operating under the banner ABC10 and owned by Tegna Inc., KXTV delivers ABC's flagship national programming alongside local investigative journalism under the To the Point brand.

• Local News Blocks: Weekdays 5:00 AM – 7:00 AM, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM, 11:00 PM – 11:35 PM.
• Key Network Events: NBA Finals, Oscars, Good Morning America, prime-time ABC schedule.

KOVR Channel 13 (CBS)

Owned and operated directly by CBS News and Stations, CBS13 shares studios and resources with sister station KMAX 31. KOVR delivers national CBS programming, major college football games, and NFL AFC matchups.

• Local News Blocks: Weekdays 4:30 AM – 7:00 AM, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM, 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Simulcast or shifted across 13/31), 11:00 PM – 11:35 PM.
• Key Sports Properties: NFL on CBS, NCAA March Madness, PGA Tour coverage.

KTXL Channel 40 (FOX)

Fox 40, owned by Nexstar Media Group, provides a mix of local news, syndicated daytime talk, national FOX prime-time hits, and major sporting events.

• Local News Blocks: Weekdays 4:30 AM – 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM, 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
• Key Network Events: NFL on FOX (NFC games), MLB Postseason, NASCAR, FOX College Football.

KMAX Channel 31 (CW / Independent)

Also owned by CBS Stations, KMAX Channel 31 serves as the local affiliate for The CW network while providing extensive local morning news through Good Day Sacramento.

• Key Programming: Good Day Sacramento (Weekdays 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM, Weekends 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM), ACC College Football, CW prime-time series.

KQCA Channel 58 (MyNetworkTV / Independent)

KCRA's sister station, KQCA Channel 58, offers local news extensions, prime-time sports broadcasts, and high-profile syndicated sitcoms.

• Key Programming: KCRA 3 News at 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM and 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM, regional sports telecasts, popular comedy reruns.

Comprehensive Sacramento Station & Channel Mapping Guide

Understanding where stations sit on your tuner depends on whether you receive signals via an Over-The-Air (OTA) antenna, Comcast Xfinity cable, Fidium Fiber TV, or direct satellite (DirecTV / Dish Network).

Broadcasting Standard Note: Digital television assigns stations a "Virtual Channel" number that matches their historical analog channel position, even though the underlying physical Radio Frequency (RF) broadcast channel differs. Always perform a digital channel auto-scan on your television to capture both main channels and multicast subchannels.

Over-the-Air Antenna Setup and ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV in Sacramento

For cord-cutters utilizing an over-the-air indoor or outdoor antenna, reception in the Sacramento region is exceptionally strong due to centralized transmitter geography.

Antenna Aiming and Signal Geometry

The vast majority of Sacramento's full-power broadcast towers are clustered near Walnut Grove, CA (approximately 25 miles south of downtown Sacramento).

1. Directional Alignment: Aim your directional or multi-directional antenna toward the South/Southwest if you are located in the Sacramento metro area, Roseville, Rocklin, Citrus Heights, or Folsom.
2. Frequency Bands: While most Sacramento stations transmit on the UHF band (RF 14 through 36), KXTV Channel 10 transmits on High-VHF (RF 10). To reliably capture ABC10 OTA, ensure your antenna specifically supports VHF frequencies (element widths longer than standard UHF loop/bowtie designs).
3. Amplification: If you live in foothill regions such as Auburn, Placerville, or El Dorado Hills, an amplified outdoor antenna mounted above the roofline is recommended to overcome terrain obstruction.

ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) Status

Sacramento operates an active ATSC 3.0 deployment with KQCA (Channel 58) serving as the primary lighthouse host station. Residents using a NextGen TV tuner or external converter box can access 1080p High Definition broadcasts, enhanced Dolby AC-4 audio, and improved signal stability for:

• KCRA 3 (NBC)
• KXTV 10 (ABC)
• KOVR 13 (CBS)
• KMAX 31 (CW)
• KTXL 40 (FOX)
• KQCA 58 (MyNetworkTV)

Sacramento Live Sports Telecast Schedule & Blackout Rules

Viewing live sports on the local Sacramento schedule requires knowing which platform holds broadcast rights for Northern California franchises.

Sacramento Kings (NBA)

• Primary Regional Network: NBC Sports California carries the majority of regular-season Kings games.
• Over-the-Air Telecasts: Selected non-nationally televised games are broadcast locally via free over-the-air partnerships on stations like KCRA 3, KQCA 58, or KMAX 31.
• National Games: High-profile matchups air nationally on ABC (KXTV 10), ESPN, and TNT.

San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders (NFL)

• Sunday Afternoon Games: Broadcast allocation depends on conference matchups. NFC games (49ers) primarily air on FOX 40 (KTXL). AFC games (Raiders) primarily air on CBS 13 (KOVR).
• Sunday Night Football: Broadcast exclusively on KCRA 3 (NBC).
• Monday Night Football: Broadcast on ESPN, with local simulcasts on KXTV 10 (ABC) when Northern California teams are featured.

San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics (MLB)

• Games are primarily carried by regional networks (NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California). Saturday regional games air periodically on FOX 40.

Technical Comparison: Cable, Antenna, and Streaming Listings

When tracking the TV schedule in Sacramento, viewers can choose from distinct viewing delivery methods, each with practical trade-offs regarding cost, latency, and visual clarity.

Broadcast Delivery Options

Over-The-Air (OTA) Antenna

• Pros: Completely free monthly access; delivers uncompressed 1080i/720p and 4K NextGen TV video streams superior to compressed cable feeds; zero transmission latency during live sports events.
• Cons: Requires initial hardware setup; reception can be impacted by line-of-sight obstructions or building materials; lacks specialized cable channels like ESPN or NewsNation.

Comcast Xfinity Cable

• Pros: Complete local channel integration alongside regional sports networks (NBC Sports California/Bay Area); cloud DVR functionality included; reliable wireline delivery.
• Cons: Monthly subscription and broadcast fee surcharges; requires cable boxes or rented equipment; picture compression applied across broadcast feeds.

Live TV Streaming Platforms (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo)

• Pros: No coaxial cable hardware required; flexible contract terms; full local Sacramento network affiliate carriage included.
• Cons: Broadcast streams lag behind live OTA feeds by 20 to 45 seconds; requires high-speed home internet; availability of regional sports networks varies significantly by platform.

Troubleshooting Local Channel Schedules and Channel Drops

If your local Sacramento schedule appears incorrect, or if digital broadcast channels disappear from your electronic program guide (EPG), follow these standard technical remedies:

1. Re-scan Digital Tuner: Cable operators and over-the-air broadcasters periodically update channel mapping metadata (PSIP data). Perform a full tuner auto-scan through your TV set’s settings menu under Channels or Broadcast Setup.
2. Check Subchannel Mappings: Major network affiliates host secondary networks on digital subchannels. For example:
   
   
   • 3.2: MeTV (Classic Television)
   • 10.2: Weather / Local News Stream
   • 13.2: Start TV
   • 40.2: Antenna TV
3. Verify Time Zone Settings: Electronic Program Guides rely on the TV's system clock. Ensure your television system setting is configured strictly to Pacific Time (PT) with daylight saving time set to automatic.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the local broadcast TV schedule for Sacramento channels?

You can view real-time listings through local station websites (such as KCRA.com, ABC10.com, or FOX40.com), your television’s built-in Electronic Program Guide (EPG), or dedicated local listings services like Zap2it and TV Guide configured to the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto DMA zip code.

What channel is NBC on in Sacramento?

NBC broadcasts on KCRA Channel 3.1 over-the-air. On Comcast Xfinity cable in the metro area, it is mapped to Channel 703 in High Definition.

Where are the main broadcast towers for Sacramento TV stations located?

The primary broadcast towers for Sacramento’s major stations (including KCRA, KXTV, KOVR, and KTXL) are located in the Walnut Grove antenna farm in southern Sacramento County. Pointing indoor or outdoor antennas south toward Walnut Grove provides the best signal strength.

How can I watch Sacramento Kings games on local television?

Most non-nationally televised Kings games air on NBC Sports California, available through local cable providers (Xfinity, Fidium) and select streaming platforms (Fubo, YouTube TV). A select number of games may also air on local broadcast channels like KQCA 58 or KCRA 3.

Is NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) available in the Sacramento media market?

Yes, Sacramento has active ATSC 3.0 broadcasts hosted via station KQCA (Channel 58). Viewers with an ATSC 3.0 compatible tuner can watch NextGen TV signals for NBC (KCRA), ABC (KXTV), CBS (KOVR), CW (KMAX), FOX (KTXL), and MyNetworkTV (KQCA).

Maintaining Access to Sacramento Broadcast Listings

To maintain uninterrupted access to local news, prime-time entertainment, and regional sports coverage across the Sacramento metropolitan area, verify your antenna positioning toward Walnut Grove or regularly refresh your streaming setup's location settings. Performing a channel auto-scan twice a year ensures your digital tuner catches all newly added subchannels, local news broadcasts, and signal upgrades across the Central Valley.