Here is a file that contains all the TV transmitters in the FCC database converted to Google Earth format.  It will let you visualize the location of all the transmitters relative to your home and you can even learn a few things about them by clicking on their icon.

Content Details

 - FCC data extracted on 12/1/2010
 - 12,892 total records
 - Icons grouped into Analog and Digital subfolders
 - Extracted record types include

 - TV / DT
 - Repeaters / Boosters
 - Translators
 - Special Temporary Authorities (STAs)
 - Low Power TV / DT

 - Each icon is set to the elevation specified in the FCC database for 3D viewing
 - Pop-up balloons show details about each transmitter including

 - Broadcast channel number
 - Virtual channel number (for digital channels)
 - Transmitter power (ERP)
 - Transmitter height (AGL and AMSL)
 - A link to the FCC query web site for full details

 

The file can be downloaded here

FCC_TV_2010-12-01.kmz.zip (443 KB)

Requirements

 - Google Earth 4.0 or later (free download from here)
 - A very good 3D graphics card
 - Lots of RAM
 - A fast internet connection

Comments

The FCC database is known to contain various errors including simple typos, outdated entries, future entries (license grants that haven't been built yet), erroneous technical details, a few missing entries, and some superfluous entries.  Since this is essentially a capture of the FCC database, most of the same errors will show up here.

Despite the limitations of the source data, I believe this data set to be better than 95% accurate.  If you know of any specific errors that should be corrected, please let me know so that future releases will contain the fix.

Setting the terrain exaggeration to 3 (max) in the Google Earth options makes it a lot easier to see the more subtle terrain variations.  Just note that this also exaggerates the transmitter heights, so the exaggeration should be set back to 1 if you want the transmitter heights to have the correct relative altitude appearance.

There are a LOT of icons to display in this file.  Trying to display all the transmitters on screen at one time can really slow down some computers and graphics cards.  It might help to turn off the transmitter display first, zoom into an area of interest, and then turn the transmitter display back on.  In this file, the transmitter display is initially turned off.  The icons can be turned on via the check box next to the desired sub-folder.

 

Change Log

1-Dec-2010
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database

29-Aug-2010
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database

22-Dec-2009
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database

6-Nov-2009
 - Added Industry Canada database for Canadian transmitters
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database

5-Oct-2009
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database

1-Aug-2009
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database

7-Jul-2009
 - Backing off of most recent FCC record updates to reduce confusion about transmitters that are not yet on the air

5-Jul-2009
 - Fix for some pre-transition records showing up as post-transition icons

2-Jul-2009
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database
 - Added support for new style translator/booster records (same callsign as master transmitter)

9-Feb-2009
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database

6-Sep-2008
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database
 - Fixes for WLPX, WNYE, and WETA

25-Jul-2008
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database

10-Feb-2008
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database

7-Dec-2007
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database

20-Jun-2007
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database
 - Fixes for KDEV and WKBW

6-May-2007
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database
 - Fixes for KCAH, KSPX, KYW, WWOR, and WNET

28-Apr-2007
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database
 - Fixes for WGHP, KMMW-LP, K45HC, KCNC, KRMA, KUSA, and KTVD 

16-Apr-2007
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database
 - Fix for WWRD-LP and W66AQ

14-Apr-2007
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database
 - Fix for W42CK
 - Changed callsign determination algorithm that fixed a lot of transmitters that were previously overlooked.  This added 1,520 transmitters to the total collection. 

10-Apr-2007
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database
 - Fixes for WJJA-TV and WYIN-TV

1-Apr-2007
 - Fixed software bug that caused several transmitters to be omitted.  If you downloaded this file prior to today, I recommend that you download it again.

30-Mar-2007
 - Updated to latest snapshot of FCC database
 - Now, clicking on a transmitter icon brings up a balloon with vital stats and a link to the FCC query