WSNS-TV

WSNS-TV, virtual channel 44 (UHF digital channel 45), is a Telemundo owned-and-operated television station located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The station is owned by the NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations subsidiary of NBCUniversal, as part of a duopoly with NBC owned-and-operated station WMAQ-TV (channel 5). The two stations share studio facilities within the NBC Tower in downtown Chicago's Magnificent Mile district. WSNS's transmitter is located atop the Willis Tower on South Wacker Drive in the Chicago Loop.

History

As an independent station

Early history

The station first signed on the air on April 5, 1970, as an independent station; it is currently the third-oldest commercial television station on the UHF band in the Chicago market (behind WCIU-TV (channel 26), which signed on in February 1964; and WFLD (channel 32), which signed on in January 1966). WSNS was originally owned by a consortium of investors including Harriscope Broadcasting (which owned a 50% interest) and the Essaness Television Corporation, from which the station's call letters are derived. The station's transmitter and studio facilities were located on the 97th floor of the John Hancock Center on North Michigan Avenue in the Streeterville neighborhood. The station never disclosed its ownership, in any of WSNS' formats, during regular sign-ons or sign-offs.