‘Chicago Today’ To Premiere Sept. 6 On WMAQ

On Friday, Sept. 6, NBC-owned WMAQ Chicago (DMA 3) will debut audiences Chicago Today, a new, live 30-minute show that will air Fridays at 11:30 a.m., growing to Monday through Friday, and featuring top places to eat, play, and relax.

Hosted by Cortney Hall and Matthew Rodrigues, the show will also highlight inspiring stories of everyday people who are doing extraordinary things for their local communities.

“Chicago is synonymous with amazing attractions like our beautiful parks and skyline, world-class museums, great sports teams, and an incredible gastronomic culture,” said David Doebler, WMAQ president-GM. “Chicago Today will dive deeper into all of this and what makes Chicago and its suburbs a world-wide destination for many around the world. If you’re looking to be entertained, find out what the best and latest trends are, and learn about inspiring stories of everyday people doing extraordinary things, I invite you to check out Chicago Today.”

Co-hosts Cortney Hall and Matthew Rodrigues will team up to highlight the best of the Windy City including new places to see and be seen, report the latest entertainment news, offer parenting tips and reveal new technologies and tools that can make everyday lives easier. The show will also embrace newsmakers, personalities and people that are making a difference in local communities.

Chicago Today will be available across the station’s on-air, digital and mobile platforms and will provide local insertion opportunities for advertisers.

Hall, born and raised in the Oak Brook suburb of Chicago, joins WMAQ from WGN Chicago where she worked as a morning news anchor for the past seven years. Before this, she worked as an anchor/reporter at WKMG Orlando, Fla., and WCIA Champaign, Ill.

She launched her career in broadcasting at Bloomberg News in New York City producing morning news segments. She earned a bachelor of science degree in Marketing from Georgetown University, and a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Northwestern University.

Rodrigues was a host and producer at PopSugar for five years, and has covered international travel from all corners of the world, Hollywood’s entertainment scene, and broadcast live from the Oscars. He earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Marymount Manhattan College.

Chicago Today will stream live on NBCChicago.com.