WMAQ Chicago

WBBM, WFLD, WMAQ, WGN and WGBO are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology.

From now until the end of 2023, WMAQ, NBC’s Chicago O&O, will be celebrating its 75^th anniversary looking back at the historic moments that helped shape Chicago. “As we celebrate WMAQ-TV’s historic 75^th anniversary this month, NBC Chicago will relive numerous stories that occurred over the decades and honor the on-air and behind-the-scenes trailblazers who helped define our legacy,” says Kevin Cross, WMAQ’s GM.

General managers say there are some 77 distinct neighborhoods in Chicago, from River North to Pilsen to Bronzeville, and it helps to have reporters — not to mention producers, news directors and general managers — who know the market’s political layout, weather and customs.

Ramirez ascends to newly created role leading news operations at the NBC-Telemundo duopoly in Chicago, with Akemi Harrison promoted to news director.

Matt Knutson will join Chicago NBC-owned WMAQ as the vice president of multiplatform content beginning Monday, Aug. 15. In this role, he will spearhead the strategy and development of non-news content across NBC’s  three owned platforms (WMAQ-WSNS-NBC Sports Chicago) and streaming apps.

Leila Rahimi is about to make history again. Last year the Chicago sportscaster broke a 29-year gender barrier when she became the first woman to host a Monday-Friday daytime shift on WSCR-AM, the Audacy sports/talk station. Now Rahimi, 38, is set to become the first female main sports anchor at NBC O&O WMAQ on April 4.

He’s adding oversite of the NBC-Telemundo duopoly to his current responsibilities as GM of NBC Sports Chicago beginning June 1.

David Doebler announced Tuesday that he plans to retire as president and general manager of NBC O&O WMAQ and Telemundo’s WSNS Chicago at the end of June. Both stations are units of Comcast NBCUniversal. Doebler, 59, told employees in an email that he’s voluntarily stepping down to spend time with his wife.

Faced with unprecedented plunges in advertising revenue at NBC-owned WMAQ Chicago and Telemundo WSNS, employees of the two NBCUniversal stations are bracing for imminent layoffs. At a virtual town hall last week, David Doebler, president and GM of the stations, announced the staff reduction plans in response to the coronavirus shutdown. Doebler, who did not say how many positions would be affected, declined to comment further.