NBC5.com
December 2, 2003

Studio5 Makes History

NBC5 Chicago launched its new street-side facility, Studio5, on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, with a special broadcast from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

“After more than a year of planning, months of construction and weeks of anticipation, we are very proud this morning to say that Studio5 has arrived,” morning anchor Dick Johnson said as the show opened.

For Larry Wert, President and General Manager of NBC5 Chicago, the new studio is a dream come true.

“This is an exciting day for all of us,” Wert said. “I hope it is the first of many years of great television here on Michigan Avenue. Thanks for being here and thanks to the people at home. We have a lot of people to thank – and our new landlord (Paul Zeller, of Zeller Realty) …We promise to pay our bills on time.”

Zeller was all smiles as he joined in the welcome.

“It is great,” he said. “We welcome you all and wish for a long and successful run.”

Gov. Rod Blagojevich, D-Ill., and his family joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony and made a pitch for a state charity drive.

“It’s for kids – to keep our kids safe and warm,” Blagojevich said about the effort to collect winter clothes and car seats for Illinois families in need.

For more information on how to make those donations, call (866) 476-1428.

NBC5’s Natalie Martinez interviewed a shivering Rev. Jesse Jackson, who grinned as he introduced former POW Shoshona Johnson, who was in town.

“This is special that she is with us today,” Jackson said. “I want to congratulate you for this outstanding open-air theater.”

“And next time we’ll let you come inside,” Martinez joked.

Martinez asked Johnson how she was feeling and, in particular, if her wounded leg was hurting.

“This cold weather in Chicago is making my leg ache,” Johnson said. “But I’m grateful to be home for this season. I cannot wait for Christmas Day, so my daughter can rip open her presents and I can see her face.

“And I’m going to say a prayer for those soldiers out there who are missing Christmas with their families,” Johnson continued. “And, hopefully, next year they will spend it with their family and bring in the new year with the family.”

Mayor Richard M. Daley also joined the crowd outside the studio for its first broadcast.

“I want to thank NBC and Studio5,” Daley said. “This is great for Chicago. And the opportunity of people coming down and getting information and entertainment – this is exciting, and we led the way in innovations here in Chicago.”

Martinez asked Daley what he wished for Chicago during this holiday season.

“I wish everyone, first of all, a healthy new year,” Daley said. “To the children, I’ll stress the importance of education.”

Daley acknowledged that Saturday was the anniversary of the death of his father, the late Mayor Richard J. Daley. As he marked the date, he said he also thought about his mother, who died this past year.

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Studio5 is located in the northwest corner of the 401 N. Michigan Ave. building, which is adjacent to the NBC Tower on Columbus Drive. NBC5 is the first television station in Chicago to broadcast live from a street-side studio. The space is leased from the Zeller Realty Group.

NBC5 plans to broadcast all its 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. newscasts from Stuido5 initially. NBC’s “Today Show” and “Access Hollywood” are also planning to do a series of shows from Studio5 in 2004.

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