WMAQ-TV

WMAQ-TV, commonly known as NBC 5, is Chicago's NBC affiliate. The station is also owned and operated by the network. The station transmits from atop the Sears Tower while its studios are located in the NBC Tower in downtown Chicago. It also has a street-level windowed studio known as Studio 5 on N. Michigan Avenue.

The station was previously known as WNBQ during the 1940s and 1950s before changing to its current call letters in 1964. It operated from the Merchandise Mart before moving to their current home at the NBC Tower in 1989.

WMAQ gained notoriety in 1997 when the station, in an effort to boost its newscast ratings, hired Jerry Springer as a commentator. At the same time, the station adopted a more tabloid news format. Though Springer was once a newscaster in Cincinnati, Ohio, his association with his infamous talk show (which was broadcast from WMAQ's studios at the time) led to the belief that the newscast was being dumbed down. The incident led to the resignation of prominent newscasters Carol Marin and Ron Magers and a drop in the station's ratings. Springer only made two commentaries before being let go.

External Links