WMAQ-TV
NBC-owned television station serving the Chicago market.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WMAQ-TV is a television station serving Chicago, Illinois, and the surrounding market. It operates as an NBC owned-and-operated station under NBCUniversal's NBC Owned Television Stations division and uses the NBC 5 Chicago and NBC Chicago brands in local promotion. The station is co-owned with Telemundo outlet WSNS-TV, channel 44; the two operations share facilities at NBC Tower in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood and use a common transmission site atop Willis Tower in the Chicago Loop. The station began broadcasting on October 8, 1948, under the call sign WNBQ. It was Chicago's fourth television station and one of NBC's original owned-and-operated television stations. During its first decades, the station was closely associated with NBC's experimental and production culture in Chicago. From studios in the Merchandise Mart, WNBQ originated or contributed to programs such as Kukla, Fran and Ollie, Garroway at Large, and Studs' Place. These productions helped establish what critics called the Chicago school of television, characterized by live performance, economical production methods, local creative talent, and an emphasis on improvisation. WNBQ also became the first Chicago television station to broadcast in color, doing so in 1956. NBC changed the station's call letters to WMAQ-TV on August 31, 1964, aligning them with the long-running WMAQ radio identity. Although the station's role as a national program producer diminished as network television became more centralized, its news operation remained an important contributor to NBC News. WMAQ-TV supplied substantial quantities of news footage from Chicago, the Midwest, and overseas during the 1960s and afterward. In 1989, after four decades at the Merchandise Mart, the station moved to NBC Tower, a major office and broadcast complex developed near North Columbus Drive. The building remains the principal home of WMAQ-TV and its sister station WSNS-TV. WMAQ-TV later experimented with a prominent street-level broadcasting presence through Studio 5 at the Equitable Building on North Michigan Avenue. The facility opened in 2004 with a national Today show broadcast hosted by Katie Couric, Al Roker, and Lester Holt. The morning and midday newscasts eventually returned to NBC Tower in 2013. The station has periodically expanded its role beyond conventional local news. It has carried or promoted community events, sports, digital streams, syndicated programming, and special broadcasts. Its event partnerships have included the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and Shamrock Shuffle 8K, while digital distribution has expanded through authenticated streaming services and internet television platforms. WMAQ-TV also participated in Chi-Town Rising, a New Year's Eve event produced with the City of Chicago and later replaced by other Chicago-focused holiday specials. WMAQ-TV's ownership changed indirectly in 2011 when Comcast completed its acquisition of NBCUniversal. The transaction brought the station into the broader Comcast-NBCUniversal portfolio and placed it alongside other Chicago media properties, including regional sports operations that were later reorganized. The station continues to operate as a local NBC affiliate in practice and as an NBC owned-and-operated station in corporate structure, producing extensive weekday and weekend newscasts, weather coverage, sports segments, investigative reporting, and digital journalism for the Chicago area.
History
WMAQ-TV traces its origins to NBC's expansion into television after the Second World War. The station signed on October 8, 1948, as WNBQ, becoming Chicago's fourth television station and one of NBC's first owned-and-operated outlets. NBC had initially considered the WNBY call sign, but the Federal Communications Commission approved WNBQ at the network's request. The new call letters helped distinguish the station from other Chicago broadcasting properties while retaining an association with NBC. In the 1950s, WNBQ operated from the Merchandise Mart and became an important center for live and recorded television production. Programs connected with the station included Kukla, Fran and Ollie, Garroway at Large, and Studs' Place. These shows reflected a production style built around local performers, small studios, live execution, and creative adaptation rather than large Hollywood budgets. The station also made a technological breakthrough in 1956 when it became the first Chicago television station to broadcast in color. NBC changed the call sign to WMAQ-TV on August 31, 1964, matching the established identity of NBC's Chicago radio operation. During the following period, the station's national entertainment-production role declined as NBC centralized network output, but its news operation remained significant. WMAQ-TV supplied NBC News with footage from Chicago, the Midwest, and international assignments, while continuing to build a substantial local-news franchise. A major physical transition occurred in 1989. After roughly forty years at the Merchandise Mart, WMAQ-TV moved into NBC Tower at 455 North Columbus Drive. The new complex provided dedicated production, newsroom, and technical facilities and became the station's long-term base. Studio A was also used for production of The Jenny Jones Show between 1991 and 2003. The station became involved in a prominent programming controversy in 1998. Religious and civic leaders organized the Dump Jerry Springer campaign, objecting to WMAQ-TV's carriage of The Jerry Springer Show. The campaign included a boycott and a rally at NBC Tower. WMAQ-TV announced that it would cancel the show in May, after which its distributor arranged for the program to move to another Chicago station. WMAQ-TV continued to experiment with its facilities and distribution. In 2004 it opened Studio 5 at the Equitable Building on Michigan Avenue, using the location for morning and midday newscasts and other live programming. The studio was introduced during a Today broadcast hosted from Chicago by Katie Couric, Al Roker, and Lester Holt. Production returned to NBC Tower in 2013. The station also developed relationships for sports and civic-event coverage, including the Chicago Marathon, Shamrock Shuffle, Chicago Fire matches, and holiday broadcasts. Corporate ownership changed in 2011 when Comcast completed its acquisition of NBCUniversal. WMAQ-TV consequently became part of a larger Comcast-NBCUniversal media group and operated alongside WSNS-TV and other Chicago properties. In 2021, Kevin Cross became president and general manager, succeeding David Doebler. Today, WMAQ-TV remains an active NBC owned-and-operated station, combining terrestrial broadcasting with authenticated and internet-based streaming, local journalism, weather and traffic services, sports and community programming, and NBC network content.
- 2021
New station president appointed
[1]Kevin Cross succeeds David Doebler as president and general manager.
- 2011
NBCUniversal joins Comcast
[1]Comcast completes its acquisition of NBCUniversal, changing the station's ultimate corporate ownership.
- 2004
Studio 5 opens
[1]WMAQ-TV opens a street-level studio at the Equitable Building on Michigan Avenue.
- 1989
Move to NBC Tower
[1]The station relocates from the Merchandise Mart to NBC Tower.
- 1964
Call sign changes to WMAQ-TV
[1]NBC adopts the WMAQ-TV call sign, aligning the station with the WMAQ radio identity.
- 1956
First Chicago color broadcast
[1]WNBQ becomes the first Chicago television station to broadcast in color.
- 1948
WNBQ signs on
[1]The station begins broadcasting in Chicago on October 8 as WNBQ.
Products and positioning
A major network-owned local television newsroom combining NBC network programming with Chicago-focused news, weather, sports, public-affairs coverage, event programming, and digital distribution.
Television broadcasting · 1948
Local news
WMAQ-TV produces local newscasts covering Chicago and the surrounding region, including breaking news, investigative reporting, politics, public affairs, weather, traffic, consumer features, and community stories. The newsroom distributes content through the broadcast channel, station website, mobile products, social platforms, and live digital streams.
Network television · 1948
NBC network programming
As an NBC owned-and-operated station, WMAQ-TV carries NBC's national schedule, including network news, entertainment, sports, and special-event programming. Local news and public-service obligations are integrated with the network schedule, with occasional adjustments for Chicago-specific events and sports coverage.
Digital media · 2015
Digital news and livestreaming
NBC Chicago extends the station's reporting and live programming through its website, mobile applications, authenticated television-provider services, and internet television platforms. These offerings provide breaking-news updates, video clips, weather information, streaming newscasts, and selected special events beyond the traditional over-the-air signal.
Sports and special events · 2001
Chicago event and sports coverage
The station has carried or digitally supported coverage of major Chicago events, including the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and Shamrock Shuffle 8K. It has also carried selected Chicago Fire matches and simulcast selected Blackhawks and Bulls games from a sister sports network. These broadcasts complement the station's core news and network programming.
Marketing campaigns
- 1998Dump Jerry Springer
Chicago
Rev. Michael Pfleger and an interfaith coalition urged viewers and advertisers to boycott WMAQ-TV because it aired The Jerry Springer Show from its NBC Tower studios. The campaign included a rally at the station and preceded WMAQ-TV's decision to cancel the program.
Outcome. WMAQ-TV canceled the program; production moved to another Chicago station before later relocating out of state.
Brand decisions
2015
Expansion into streaming platformsProduct launchBackground
NBC-owned stations were expanding authenticated and internet-based distribution of local programming.
Action taken
WMAQ-TV became available through participating pay-TV provider applications and later through PlayStation Vue and YouTube TV.
Aftermath
The station broadened access to its local programming beyond its terrestrial signal and traditional cable carriage.
2004
Launch of Studio 5Product launchBackground
WMAQ-TV sought a visible, street-level presence in the central Chicago business district.
Action taken
The station opened a live broadcast studio at the Equitable Building on North Michigan Avenue.
Aftermath
Morning and midday newscasts used the facility until 2013, when production returned to NBC Tower.
2000
Local marketing arrangement with WCPX-TVStrategyBackground
NBC entered an arrangement connected to its relationship with Pax TV and WCPX-TV, channel 38.
Action taken
WMAQ-TV provided advertising-sales services and shared selected programming, including delayed rebroadcasts of its evening newscasts.
Aftermath
The arrangement ended on July 1, 2005, after Pax TV rebranded as i: Independent Television.
1998
Cancellation of The Jerry Springer ShowOtherBackground
An organized viewer and advertiser boycott criticized the station's broadcast of The Jerry Springer Show.
Action taken
WMAQ-TV announced that it would stop carrying the syndicated program.
Aftermath
The distributor moved the show to Fox-owned WFLD in Chicago, and the program later moved production to Stamford, Connecticut.
1992
NBC-owned stations reduce paid programmingStrategyBackground
NBC-owned television stations, including WMAQ-TV, announced that they would stop carrying paid programming as a regular part of their schedules.
Action taken
WMAQ-TV ended its principal local infomercial carriage, although limited paid programming later returned in off-peak periods.
Aftermath
The station continued to operate primarily with NBC, local, syndicated, and news content, with paid programming remaining substantially reduced.
Recent events
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