s ▁both ▁networks , ▁along ▁with ▁regional ▁sports ▁network ▁N BC ▁Sports ▁Chicago . ▁W S NS - TV ▁and ▁W MA Q - TV ▁share ▁stud ios ▁at ▁the ▁N BC ▁Tower ▁on ▁North ▁Columb us ▁Drive ▁in ▁the ▁city ' s ▁Stre eter ville ▁neighborhood ▁and ▁transmit ter ▁facilities ▁at op ▁the ▁Will is ▁Tower ▁on ▁South ▁W acker ▁Drive ▁in ▁the ▁Chicago ▁Loop . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁As ▁an ▁independent ▁station ▁ ▁Early ▁history ▁The ▁station ▁first ▁signed ▁on ▁the ▁air ▁on ▁April ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 9 7 0 , ▁as ▁an ▁independent ▁station ; ▁it ▁is ▁currently ▁the ▁third - old est ▁commercial ▁television ▁station ▁on ▁the ▁U H F ▁band ▁in ▁the ▁Chicago ▁market ▁( be hind ▁W CI U - TV ▁( channel ▁ 2 6 ), ▁which ▁signed ▁on ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 6 4 ; ▁and ▁W F LD ▁( channel ▁ 3 2 ), ▁which ▁signed ▁on ▁in ▁January ▁ 1 9 6 6 ). ▁W S NS ▁was ▁originally ▁owned ▁by ▁a ▁joint ▁vent ure ▁consisting ▁of ▁Harris cope ▁Broadcast ing ▁( owned ▁by ▁Ir ving ▁Harris , ▁which ▁owned ▁a ▁ 5 0 % ▁interest ), ▁the ▁Ess an ess ▁Television ▁Corporation ▁( f ounded ▁by ▁the ater ▁owner ▁Ed win ▁Silver man ), ▁from ▁which ▁the ▁station ' s ▁call ▁letters ▁are ▁derived , ▁and ▁National ▁Sub scription ▁Television , ▁a ▁joint ▁vent ure ▁between ▁Oak ▁Indust ries ▁( a ▁manufact urer ▁of ▁satellite ▁and ▁pay ▁television ▁dec