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WJXT (channel 4) is an independent television station in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It is owned by Graham Media Group alongside CW affiliate WCWJ (channel 17). The two stations share studios at 4 Broadcast Place on the south bank of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville; WJXT's transmitter is located on Anders Boulevard in the city's Killarney Shores section.

Key Information

History

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As a CBS affiliate

[edit]

WJXT originally signed on the air on September 15, 1949, as WMBR-TV. It was Jacksonville's first television station, the second television station in Florida and a primary CBS affiliate on VHF channel 4 after WTVJ (also on channel 4, now an NBC owned-and-operated station on channel 6) in Miami–Fort Lauderdale. The station was co-owned alongside WMBR radio (1460 AM,[2] now WQOP;[3] and 96.1 FM, now WEJZ). Though the station was originally a primary CBS affiliate, it also maintained secondary affiliations with NBC, ABC and the DuMont Television Network. In 1953, the WMBR stations were purchased by The Washington Post Company. WMBR-TV dropped the DuMont affiliation in 1955, less than a year before the network ceased operations. Since its only competition in the Jacksonville market came from UHF station WJHP-TV (which signed on in 1953 and went dark three years later), channel 4 had a virtual television monopoly in northern Florida until September 1957, when it lost the NBC affiliation to upstart WFGA (channel 12, now WTLV).

The Washington Post Company sold WMBR-AM-FM in 1958, while it kept the television station, whose callsign it changed to the current WJXT. WJXT remained a primary CBS and secondary ABC affiliate until WJKS-TV (channel 17, now CW sister station WCWJ) took the ABC affiliation upon its sign-on in February 1966, leaving WJXT exclusively with CBS. For much of its tenure as a CBS affiliate, WJXT was the only station affiliated with the network that was located between Savannah, Georgia, and Orlando, Florida, and was thus carried on many cable systems between Jacksonville and Orlando.

In 1973, WJXT's FCC license renewal was challenged by supporters of President Richard Nixon following the Watergate coverage of his administration by The Washington Post, whose parent company owned the station. Robert W. Schellenberg, WJXT's general manager, successfully led the effort to defeat the opposition.[4]

In 2001, WJXT was awarded the local broadcast rights to Jacksonville Jaguars preseason football games, replacing WTLV as the official station for the NFL franchise (WTLV had carried preseason games and Jaguars-related programs starting with the team's 1995 inaugural season); the deal also included carriage of the team's coaches show and other Jaguars-related television programs.[5] The station had already been airing Jaguars games since 1998, when CBS gained the national broadcast rights to football games from the NFL's American Football Conference division. That year, speculation arose that WJXT would become an independent station after it had reached only a one-year affiliation renewal with the network, instead of a four to eight-year affiliation agreement that stations usually obtain from the major broadcast networks.[6]

Independence

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During negotiations between Post-Newsweek Stations and CBS on a new affiliation agreement in early 2002, CBS supplied Post-Newsweek with a list of demands that would have resulted in WJXT no longer receiving monetary compensation for the carriage of the network's programming (CBS was moving toward a reverse compensation model for its affiliates during this time) and would have required the station to run the entire CBS network schedule in pattern without preemptions, except for extended local breaking news and severe weather coverage. Station and Post-Newsweek company management believed these stipulations would come at the expense of local programming.[7][8] Rather than give in to CBS' demands, Post-Newsweek Stations announced on April 3, 2002, that it would not renew channel 4's affiliation agreement with CBS, which was set to expire on July 10.[7][8][9]

UPN affiliate WTEV-TV (channel 47, now WJAX-TV)—at that time owned by Clear Channel Communications—subsequently signed an agreement with CBS to become the network's new Jacksonville affiliate two weeks after WJXT's disaffiliation announcement on April 23, 2002.[10] The affiliation switch became official at 5 a.m. on July 15, 2002, ending WJXT's 53-year association with CBS. This also triggered an affiliation switch in Gainesville where WGFL became a CBS affiliate; that station was a primary affiliate of The WB at the time.

As an independent, WJXT expanded its news programming and began filling daytime, prime time and late night timeslots that were formerly occupied by CBS programs with additional syndicated programming, as well as replacing network sports coverage with SEC college football and basketball telecasts from the syndicated sports provider Jefferson Pilot Sports (later Raycom Sports).[11] WJXT retained rights to Jaguars preseason games for one additional year following the switch, despite the fact that the AFC regular season and playoff football games had moved to WTEV due to national broadcast rights held by CBS and a contract stipulation that reserved the team the right to move local broadcasts of preseason games and other Jaguars programs to another station if WJXT changed its network affiliation.[12][13] The team cut ties with WJXT after the 2002 NFL preseason and moved its preseason games to WTEV-TV in 2003.[14]

WJXT does not entirely follow the same "Local" branding scheme as its Graham Media sister stations, although it uses the on-air slogan "The Local Station", and in 2014, the station adopted a slanted logo similar to Detroit NBC affiliate WDIV-TV, but with elements of its previous boxed 4, alongside changing its news branding to News4JAX.

On May 27, 2016, it was announced that CW affiliate WCWJ, along with WSLS-TV in Roanoke, Virginia, would be sold to Graham Media for $120 million as part of the station divestitures required as a result of the pending merger of the Nexstar Broadcasting Group, then-owners of WCWJ, and WCWJ's former owner Media General.[15] The sale was approved by the FCC on January 11, 2017, and completed January 17,[16] making WJXT part of a duopoly (Graham Media's first) with WCWJ.

In 2025, WJXT announced an agreement with Sporting Club Jacksonville of the USL Super League to broadcast seven matches.[17]

News operation

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WJXT presently broadcasts 59 hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 10 hours each weekday, 5+1⁄2 hours on Saturdays and 3+1⁄2 hours on Sundays); in regards to the number of hours devoted to local news programming, it is the third-highest newscast output among Florida's television stations, behind Fox stations WTVT in Tampa and WSVN in Miami (which respectively broadcast 72+1⁄2 and 63+1⁄2 hours of newscasts each week).

Because of the ownership structure of the Jacksonville market's Big Four network affiliates, WJXT is the only television station in the market whose news department operates independently of the other local stations (WTLV and WJXX have jointly produced their newscasts since WTLV owner Gannett's 2000 purchase of WJXX and the resulting consolidation of their news departments, and WAWS transferred production duties of its news department to SSA partner WTEV following that station's 2002 affiliation switch to CBS).

Channel 4 used the Eyewitness News format for its newscasts for 38 years from 1967 to 2005, when its newscasts were retitled as Channel 4 News. From 1997 until the station became independent in 2002, WJXT identified as News Channel 4 for general branding purposes, while the Eyewitness News title continued in use for its newscasts. This made for some rather verbose station announcements ("From WJXT News Channel 4 ... this is Eyewitness News").[18] Since 2014, it has been known as News 4 Jax, a nod to its longtime Website URL.

WJXT has been the dominant news station in Jacksonville for almost half a century, in part because many of its personalities have been at the station for ten years or more. Its evening news team of anchors Tom Wills and Deborah Gianoulis, chief meteorologist George Winterling and sports director Sam Kouvaris were together for 22 years from 1981 until Gianoulis' retirement in 2003 – one of the longest-running anchor teams in the nation at the time.[19] Upon losing its CBS affiliation, channel 4 rebranded as a news-intensive independent station. Following the example of a number of former Big Three affiliates that switched to Fox in the 1990s, it has a news schedule similar to its days as a CBS affiliate. It retained all existing newscasts, while tacking two additional hours onto its weekday morning program and adding a 6:30 p.m. newscast on weeknights (the former two replacing The Early Show and the CBS Evening News) and a 10 p.m. newscast seven nights a week (airing for an hour on weeknights and a half-hour on weekends).

On January 14, 2009, beginning with its noon newscast, WJXT became the first television station in the Jacksonville market to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition (unlike most stations that transition their newscasts to HD, certain newscasts were not upgraded until later dates: the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts would not upgrade to HD until two days later on January 16; the weekend newscasts on January 17 and the weekday morning, and 10 and 11 p.m. newscasts respectively upgraded to HD on January 26 and 28).[20] The upgrade saw the introduction of new on-air graphics (opens were designed in-house at Detroit sister station WDIV-TV, while the graphics were designed at Miami sister station WPLG) and news music (commissioning an updated version of the "WJXT News Theme", a customized package that was originally used from 1992 to 1997, and was composed specifically for the station by Gari Media Group), as well as the upgrade to robotic and computer-operated cameras for studio segments within its newscasts, the automation of its control room using the Miranda Vertigo system and Ignite technology.

On April 23, 2009, George Winterling announced he would semi-retire after nearly 47 years as WJXT's chief meteorologist. On May 20, 2009, Winterling stepped down as meteorologist for the station's 6 and 6:30 p.m. newscasts. [21]

On May 21, 2012, Metro Jacksonville, a news and discussion blog on local urban issues, announced that it would enter into a content partnership with WJXT. Under the agreement, Metro Jacksonville formats content for WJXT's News4Jax.com website on a self-branded page. The mutually beneficial partnership provides WJXT with more web content and provides Metro Jacksonville with a wider audience.[22] On October 28, 2013, WJXT expanded its weekday morning newscast to 5½ hours, with the addition of an hour to the program from 9 to 10 a.m.[23]

Notable former on-air staff

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Technical information

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Subchannels

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Subchannels provided by WJXT (ATSC 1.0)[27][28]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming ATSC 1.0 host
4.1 720p 16:9 WJXT-HD Main WJXT programming WCWJ
4.2 DABL Dabl WJCT
4.3 480i WJXT-D3 Start TV WCWJ

Analog-to-digital conversion

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On June 12, 2009, at 8:55 a.m. (during its broadcast of the weekday morning newscast The Morning Show), WJXT terminated its analog signal, on VHF channel 4, as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television.[29] The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 42,[30] using virtual channel 4.

WJXT anchor/reporter Melanie Lawson reported live from WJXT's Killarney Shores transmitter site as a veteran station technician pushed the "plate off" button in the building at the base of the transmitter. The WJXT analog signal had transmitted from that site for over two decades following a failure on the original transmitter tower at the station's 4 Broadcast Place studios. The station's digital transmitter also broadcasts from the same site, alongside the digital transmitters of NBC affiliate WTLV and ABC affiliate WJXX. Several monitors at WJXT's South Bank studios were reported by on-camera talent to have gone out upon the digital switchover.

ATSC 3.0 lighthouse service

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On December 10, 2024, WJXT converted from an ATSC 1.0 signal to ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) broadcasting. The station's ATSC 1.0 subchannels were moved to other broadcasters for simulcasting, while WJXT became the "lighthouse" host for the ATSC 3.0 transmission of WJXT, WCWJ, and WJCT.[31]

Subchannels of WJXT (ATSC 3.0)[32]
Channel Short name Programming
4.1 WJXT-HD Independent
7.1 WJCT PBS (WJCT)
17.1 WCWJ The CW (WCWJ)
17.2 Bounce Bounce TV (WCWJ)

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

WJXT

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WJXT, virtual channel 4, is an independent television station licensed to Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Owned by Graham Media Group, a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company, it shares studios with sister station and CW affiliate WCWJ on the south bank of the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. The station operates under the News4JAX brand, delivering local news, weather, and sports coverage to Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, and is recognized as the market's leading source for such programming. WJXT traces its origins to , 1949, when it signed on as WMBR-TV, becoming the first in Jacksonville and the second in , initially affiliated with . In 1953, the Washington Post Company acquired the station, changing its call letters to WJXT while retaining the affiliation. evolved through Post-Newsweek Stations before transitioning to , formerly known as Post-Newsweek Stations. A pivotal shift occurred in 2002, when WJXT ended its affiliation amid contract disputes with the network, opting instead for independent status and emphasizing syndicated content and local programming. The station has earned distinction for its journalistic contributions, including multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards for overall excellence, Regional Edward R. Murrow honors, Emmys, Associated Press awards, and three Golden Batons from the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters. It maintains top-rated newscasts in the Jacksonville market and pioneered milestones such as early adoption of high-definition broadcasting in 2009 and sustaining a long-tenured news team for 19 years. WJXT's weather coverage, highlighted by meteorologist George Winterling's accurate forecasts for events like Hurricane Dora in 1964 and a rare snowy Christmas in 1989, underscores its role in community alerting.

Ownership

Current ownership

WJXT is owned by , a of Company, which operates the station from facilities in . As part of this ownership, WJXT shares a duopoly with CW affiliate (channel 17), allowing consolidated operations that enhance efficiency in news production and local content delivery. This structure supports WJXT's independent status, free from national network programming mandates, thereby prioritizing hyper-local coverage over syndicated obligations. The duopoly enables WJXT to extend local newscasts beyond typical affiliation limits, a flexibility not available to network-affiliated competitors in the market, as the absence of reverse compensation deals or primetime commitments permits more hours dedicated to Jacksonville-specific reporting. Graham Media Group's broader portfolio includes affiliates in and Roanoke, an ABC station in , and others in top-70 markets, but corporate oversight emphasizes decentralized to preserve each station's regional focus and operational independence. Headquartered in , the group integrates back-office functions like digital tools across properties while deferring content strategy to local management, fostering WJXT's autonomy in serving and audiences.

Ownership history

WJXT signed on the air as WMBR-TV on September 15, 1949, as Jacksonville's first television station and the second in Florida, established by the owners of local radio station WMBR, led by Glenn Marshall, amid the post-World War II surge in television broadcasting driven by technological advancements and FCC allocations of VHF channels. In 1953, WMBR-TV and its co-owned radio stations were purchased by The Washington Post Company for an undisclosed sum, marking an early example of newspaper publishers expanding into television to leverage synergies in news content and audience reach during the medium's rapid growth phase. The company divested the AM and FM radio outlets in 1958 while retaining the television license, prompting a call sign change to WJXT later that year to distinguish the property. Ownership transitioned seamlessly within the corporate structure following the Washington Post Company's 1961 formation of its broadcast division, Post-Newsweek Stations, after acquiring magazine, though the stations operated independently of print operations. In 2013, the parent entity restructured and renamed to Company after divesting newspaper; the following year, on July 28, 2014, Post-Newsweek Stations rebranded as to reflect the evolved portfolio absent direct ties to former flagship publications. This internal continuity, unmarred by external sales or divestitures of WJXT itself, preserved operational stability amid 1990s FCC deregulation like the , which loosened duopoly restrictions and facilitated related acquisitions such as the 2017 purchase of without introducing foreign or activist investors.

History

Launch and early years

WMBR-TV, the precursor to WJXT, signed on the air as Jacksonville's inaugural on September 15, 1949, broadcasting on VHF analog from studios located adjacent to the Main Street Bridge along the in Jacksonville. Licensed to serve the Jacksonville area, the station was established by local radio owner Glenn Marshall, who extended his WMBR radio operations into television amid the nascent post-World War II expansion of broadcasting infrastructure. As only the second television outlet in —following Miami's —it filled a pioneering role in northeast , where no prior local TV service existed. Initial programming consisted of a blend of live local content, such as variety shows and events produced in the modest facilities, supplemented by affiliated network feeds from and ABC, reflecting the era's common practice of shared affiliations due to limited station availability. The station's VHF allocation provided a propagation advantage over potential UHF competitors, capitalizing on the FCC's policy of prioritizing channels in major markets to ensure reliable signal coverage amid spectrum scarcity. By the mid-1950s, WMBR-TV had solidified as the market's primary affiliate, delivering network primetime schedules alongside regional and public affairs segments tailored to Jacksonville's growing urban audience. Throughout the 1950s, the station maintained its monopoly-like position in the Jacksonville media landscape, with minimal competition from out-of-market signals or new entrants, fostering viewer loyalty through consistent that included educational features and live coverage from the region. Technical operations emphasized black-and-white analog transmission optimized for the sandy coastal terrain of northeast , reaching households across Duval and adjacent areas without significant interference. This foundational period laid the groundwork for the station's enduring influence, culminating in its 1958 rebranding to WJXT following acquisition by Company, which retained the television asset while divesting radio holdings.

CBS affiliation period

WJXT signed on the air as WMBR-TV on September 15, 1949, marking it as Jacksonville's inaugural television station and Florida's second, operating primarily as a CBS affiliate from its inception. The affiliation delivered a steady stream of network programming, including prime-time dramas, variety shows, and national news broadcasts like the CBS Evening News, which anchored evening schedules and shaped viewer habits in the burgeoning Northeast Florida market. This long-term partnership, spanning 53 years, enabled WJXT to leverage CBS resources for high-profile event coverage, such as live reports on rocket launches from Cape Canaveral, capitalizing on the station's geographic proximity to the Space Coast for enhanced local and network-integrated broadcasts. As the Jacksonville market expanded through the and , WJXT adapted to technological shifts by transitioning to color broadcasting, aligning with 's push toward full-color production and improving visual quality for local and network content alike. The station's programming remained heavily dependent on CBS feeds, which occupied prime evening slots and reduced opportunities for extended local fare, though WJXT balanced this with daily news segments introduced under anchors like Bill Grove. Facility enhancements supported operational growth, culminating in a major studio rebuild in the 1990s that overlaid the original structure near the St. Johns River, accommodating increased production demands amid rising viewership. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, CBS's evolving affiliation strategies— including demands for greater schedule clearances in evenings and adjustments to compensation models—created friction with stations like WJXT, which prioritized robust local news over expanded network primetime encroachment. Operating under a one-year contract extension after the prior agreement expired, WJXT generated nearly $30 million in revenue in 2001 as the market's leading CBS outlet, underscoring its dominance despite these pressures. The network's push for affiliates to yield more airtime to national content clashed with WJXT's established emphasis on community-focused reporting, highlighting dependencies that constrained local autonomy.

Transition to independence

On July 15, 2002, WJXT discontinued its 53-year affiliation with , transitioning to independent operation under Post-Newsweek Stations' ownership. The decision stemmed from failed contract negotiations, where demanded full clearance of its primetime schedule without continued financial compensation to the affiliate, while WJXT sought to retain preemptions for high-rated programming that outperformed network offerings in the Jacksonville market. Post-Newsweek executive Alan Frank highlighted that 's evolving demands constrained local programming flexibility, prioritizing network expansion over affiliate autonomy amid rising cable and satellite fragmentation that favored viewer-specific content. In response, WJXT immediately filled vacated network slots with syndicated programming, sports broadcasts such as games, and expanded local news blocks, temporarily leveraging a partnership with affiliate for select content access while avoiding reliance on any single network's terms. This shift eliminated affiliation compensation from —previously standard but phased out as the network strengthened with hits like Survivor—but restored full control over scheduling to align with empirical viewer data showing preference for WJXT's news dominance, which had secured the station's market-leading status. CBS CEO later claimed the split caused WJXT to plummet from first to fifth in the market, attributing it to the station's refusal to compensate ; however, Post-Newsweek disputed this, and subsequent Nielsen data affirmed WJXT's sustained leadership in ratings and overall household reach, validating the causal logic that preempting network overreach preserved loyalty in a fragmenting media landscape.

Post-2002 developments

Following its transition to independent status in July 2002, WJXT substantially expanded production, committing to approximately 50 hours of weekly programming to fill the void left by network content. This shift emphasized original content, including extended newscasts such as a competitive 10 p.m. slot, while incorporating syndicated shows like to bolster daytime and evening schedules. The station's news operation maintained market leadership, consistently topping ratings in key dayparts by the late . In the 2010s, WJXT accelerated its digital strategy, building on the News4JAX.com platform rebranded in 2000 to deliver breaking news, video, and interactive features as a primary local resource. The station upgraded to high-definition broadcasts in 2009, enhancing on-air and online presentation, and by 2017 introduced livestreaming for newscasts across platforms, including a new 4 p.m. show accessible via app and web. Mobile app integrations followed, with the News4JAX Weather Authority app providing real-time data by the early 2020s. Into the 2020s, WJXT has sustained its independent model amid rising streaming competition, prioritizing multi-platform delivery without reliance on Big Four network affiliations. Leveraging its duopoly structure, the station has optimized for robust local coverage, including the OTT streaming service News4JAX+ for live video on connected TVs. Operating on VHF , WJXT retains strong over-the-air penetration in the Jacksonville market, supporting hybrid viewership across broadcast, app, and web amid trends.

Programming

Non-news programming

WJXT produces several original local programs emphasizing , , and regional interests, particularly following its transition to independent status in July 2002, which necessitated filling former network time slots with homegrown content. This shift allowed the station to prioritize local fare over syndicated imports, drawing on Jacksonville's cultural and civic landscape to foster viewer retention through targeted, event-driven segments. The flagship non-news offering is The Morning Show, a weekday program airing from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., with weekend extensions from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Saturdays and 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Sundays. Hosted by figures such as Bruce Hamilton, it features live discussions on community happenings, consumer tips, topics, and , often incorporating viewer call-ins and on-location reports from Jacksonville-area like festivals or markets. The program maintains a casual yet informative format, spotlighting practical local matters such as deals or seasonal activities without reliance on national feeds. Complementing this is River City Live, a weekday lifestyle series that airs in daytime slots and covers Jacksonville-specific stories including fashion trends, bargain hunts, musical performances by local artists, and interactive contests. It emphasizes accessible, everyday utility—such as highlighting steals on household goods or community spotlights—while avoiding broader national narratives to underscore regional relevance. These originals, expanded post-2002, reflect WJXT's strategy of leveraging direct community ties for scheduling stability in a competitive market.

Syndicated and acquired content

WJXT relies on syndicated programming to fill daytime, early fringe, and access time slots, selecting cost-effective offerings that align with local viewer preferences for family-oriented content. Following the end of its affiliation on , , the station expanded its acquisition of off-network sitcoms and talk shows to replace network programming, stockpiling titles amid rising syndication costs to sustain profitability. Key acquisitions have included talk formats such as and Dr. Phil, which bolstered ratings during the early independent era by drawing broad audiences with daytime appeal. More recently, the lineup features court shows like and Couples Court with the Cutlers, alongside lifestyle talk programs including and Sherri. In prime access, WJXT airs newsmagazines such as , while off-network sitcoms like have emerged as top performers in the Jacksonville market according to Nielsen data, outperforming many network alternatives with their light, repeatable format suited to family viewing. This data-driven approach prioritizes established, high-clearance shows over riskier or edgier fare, maximizing ad revenue in non-news blocks while minimizing reliance on network feeds, which were briefly used in the station's early duopoly phase but phased out to emphasize local content.

News operation

News format and production

WJXT's news broadcasts employ an anchor-driven format, featuring dedicated teams for morning and evening newscasts to ensure consistent delivery across time slots. Morning programming, such as "The Morning Show," utilizes rotating anchors and meteorologists to cover early-hour updates, while evening slots emphasize in-depth reporting led by primary anchors handling multiple hourly broadcasts from 4 p.m. onward. This structure incorporates live shots from mobile units, enabling real-time field reporting integrated seamlessly into studio segments. The station's production facilities are centralized at studios located at 4 Broadcast Place on the south bank of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, supporting advanced integration of aerial and on-ground feeds. A major upgrade in introduced a modern news set designed by WrightSet, featuring a curved seamless LED for dynamic graphics, color-changing elements for urgency cues like , and a flexible "news cube" with 90-degree LED panels to eliminate visual seams during multi-angle shots. These enhancements facilitate high-production-value segments without reliance on extensive on-set interviews, prioritizing efficient fact-based delivery. Technological capabilities include the Sky 4 , reintroduced in 2016 after a decade-long hiatus, equipped with advanced systems like an Ikegami HDL-F3000 camera and Cineflex for stabilized aerial coverage of breaking events. Complementing this, WJXT deploys drones—branded under Sky 4 Drone—as of at least 2016, providing cost-effective, low-altitude perspectives that enhance helicopter footage for traffic, weather, and incident reporting, often yielding superior angles in constrained urban areas. WJXT maintains a straight-news style, focusing on verifiable facts with minimal or extended commentary, as evidenced by its high factual reporting rating and balanced selection devoid of editorializing. This approach aligns with the station's commitment to delivering complex information directly, avoiding prolonged studio discussions in favor of sourced, concise updates.

Investigative and special reporting

WJXT's investigative unit, known as the I-TEAM, has conducted in-depth probes into accountability, including coverage of state-led audits under Governor ' Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that identified nearly $200 million in excessive spending within Jacksonville's general fund for 2025-2026. These reports emphasized empirical discrepancies, such as the city's growth outpacing population increases by highlighting specific line items like overtaxation claims exceeding $200 million, prompting public scrutiny without deference to municipal narratives. The station's from network affiliations enabled unfiltered analysis of such fiscal data, avoiding pressures to soften critiques of local overreach as seen in affiliated outlets influenced by broader media alignments. In special reporting, WJXT has produced extended segments on hurricane preparedness and impacts, drawing on verifiable meteorological data and historical records to assess causal factors in regional vulnerabilities, such as infrastructure failures during past storms like in 2016 and ongoing threats from systems like Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. These efforts included data-driven breakdowns of evacuation efficacy and post-event recovery metrics, prioritizing quantitative outcomes over anecdotal accounts to inform viewer decision-making. The I-TEAM has also exposed patterns in local and regulatory lapses through causal examinations, such as investigations into a director's mishandling of remains and funds, which resulted in additional charges after station-led scrutiny of financial records and accounts. Similarly, probes into abuses, including a 2025 case where a employee allegedly instructed residents to cease reporting problem properties, leveraged to reveal systemic disincentives for oversight, leading to internal investigations. This approach consistently favored primary data sources, such as official audits and incident reports, to debunk unsubstantiated efficiency claims by local entities.

Notable on-air personnel

Tom Wills served as the primary evening news anchor at WJXT for 49 years, from 1975 until his retirement on May 31, 2024, helping maintain the station's dominance in local ratings through consistent, viewer-preferred delivery of news. Mary Baer co-anchored alongside Wills for over 30 years until retiring on May 31, 2023, contributing to the stability of WJXT's news team during a period when the station consistently led in key demographics like adults 25-54. In weather reporting, held the role of chief meteorologist for 47 years, from 1962 to 2009, establishing a legacy of reliable forecasting that anchored viewer trust in WJXT's coverage of Jacksonville's variable climate. His successor, John Gaughan, served as chief meteorologist for over 30 years until retiring on May 31, 2023, ensuring continuity in factual, data-driven weather segments amid the station's top-rated performance. Vic Micolucci, an investigative reporter and anchor, worked at WJXT for more than a decade until departing on April 3, 2024, to join the , where his reporting had driven community accountability through in-depth local stories. Current staff like Jenese Harris, an Emmy-winning anchor and meteorologist who became the first African American woman to deliver a weathercast on WJXT in August 2022, exemplify the station's merit-based retention, with her contributions aligning with sustained high ratings rather than demographic quotas.

Awards and recognition

Industry accolades

WJXT has received multiple Regional Emmy Awards from the Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for excellence in local television production. In 2023, the station earned seven awards, recognizing projects in categories such as news reporting and programming. In 2024, WJXT secured two Emmy wins out of ten nominations, highlighting specific stories in investigative and general news. Earlier accolades include three Emmys in 2018 for outstanding coverage and production quality. The station has also garnered recognition from the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters Association for spot news coverage, particularly during severe weather events. In 2018, WJXT's morning newscast "After Hurricane Irma" took first place in the Television Newscast Morning/Midday category, acknowledging timely reporting on the storm's impact. Additional Florida AP honors in the 2020s have included awards for hurricane-related spot news, such as coverage of subsequent storms like Matthew and Ian, though specific placements vary by year and emphasize rapid, on-scene journalism. On the national level, WJXT received a 2021 EPPY Award from Editor & Publisher for its "Positively Jax" community initiative, praising innovative delivery and . Individual staff achievements include reporter Jenese Harris winning a 2025 Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media for outstanding on-air reporting, underscoring contributions to broadcast excellence. These awards reflect peer-evaluated standards from journalism organizations, focusing on technical proficiency, factual accuracy, and impactful storytelling rather than internal or local commendations.

Local impact awards

WJXT's "Positively Jax" initiative, launched to spotlight individuals and organizations driving positive change in Jacksonville through viewer nominations and on-air features, has earned recognition for enhancing local community ties. In , the program received the Community Service Station of the Year award from the Association of Broadcast Journalists (FABJ), honoring its efforts to promote volunteerism, , and civic involvement amid challenges like post-pandemic recovery. The initiative repeated this achievement in 2022, with FABJ citing "Positively Jax" for galvanizing community action, including fundraising for homeless services and highlighting local heroes, which correlated with increased viewer participation in reported events. By 2024, WJXT again secured the Community Service Station of the Year from FABJ on April 20, recognizing sustained impact through stories that spurred donations exceeding $100,000 for Duval County programs in the prior year. These awards underscore WJXT's role in building public trust during local crises, such as hurricane preparedness coverage, where post-event polls by independent civic groups like the Jacksonville Community Foundation noted elevated viewer reliance on the station for actionable community resources over competitors.

Reception and criticisms

Ratings and market performance

WJXT has demonstrated consistent dominance in local news ratings within the Jacksonville designated market area (DMA), ranked as the 43rd largest television market in the United States with approximately 840,000 television households as of the 2024-2025 season. In Nielsen Media Research sweeps, the station frequently outperforms network affiliates, particularly in key time slots like mornings and late evenings, attributing its success to an emphasis on extended local programming following its 2002 transition to independence. For instance, during the 2020-2021 television season, WJXT led all stations in household ratings and the adults 25-54 demographic across the full broadcast day, including marquee newscasts at 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m., where it captured 9,000 and 11,000 viewers in that demo, respectively. This performance has persisted in subsequent periods, with WJXT securing top household ratings in the 2018-2019 season across all major dayparts and maintaining leads in 11 p.m. newscasts as recently as 2023, averaging a 2.4 share compared to competitors' 1.5 or lower. The station's strategy of filling primetime and other slots with local content, rather than network programming, has enabled it to capture audience share from affiliates, resulting in measurable gains in sweeps data post-2002. In the 25-54 demo, critical for advertisers, WJXT's morning shows in achieved ratings more than double those of combined competitors at 5:30 a.m. Complementing its linear television strength, WJXT's digital extension, News4JAX, supports audience retention through integrated online and app platforms, though specific metrics emphasize its role in extending reach beyond traditional viewership. The station's independence allows flexibility in scheduling, contributing to its outsized market performance relative to the mid-tier ranking.

Viewer and critic feedback

WJXT has been commended by independent media evaluators for its commitment to factual, balanced local reporting, particularly during crises like hurricanes, where its on-the-ground coverage has informed Northeast residents on evacuation routes, storm impacts, and recovery efforts. For example, during in 2019, station reporter Vic Micolucci embedded for 96 hours in the hardest-hit Bahamian areas, delivering firsthand accounts that aided regional preparedness. Similarly, post-Hurricane Ian coverage in 2022 highlighted election officials' contingency planning amid disruptions, underscoring the station's role in civic continuity. Critics and viewers have occasionally accused WJXT of sensationalism and selective framing, as seen in user-generated reviews on platforms like Yelp, where it holds a 2.2 out of 5 rating from 27 assessments as of October 2025, with detractors labeling it "fake news" for alleged comment censorship and inconsistent weather accuracy. A 2020 controversy over beach crowd photos during COVID-19 lockdowns drew charges of misleading visuals to exaggerate overcrowding, prompting public backlash and defenses from station personnel emphasizing contextual transparency to counter bias perceptions. In January 2026, WJXT faced backlash on social media following a tweet and article headline that described allegations of sexual activity between a Jacksonville dance company CEO and a 13-year-old student as a "sexual relationship." Numerous users criticized the phrasing for implying consent, demanding it be corrected to "rape," with some calling for the reporter's firing or the tweet's deletion. The tweet, posted on January 5, 2026, garnered 106 likes and over 200 replies, including prominent responses such as one stating "An adult can't have 'a sexual relationship' with a 13-year-old. Call it what it is: rape," which received 215 likes. Online forums reflect divided sentiments, with Reddit discussions portraying WJXT as comparatively less biased than rivals yet prone to hype-driven narratives that prioritize viewer retention over nuance. Despite such anecdotal grievances, verifiable formal complaints remain sparse, and no significant ethical scandals have tarnished its operations; however, broader shifts toward cable and digital fragmentation have diluted traditional audience allegiance, amplifying isolated dissatisfactions in an era of niche media alternatives. , an independent assessor, rates the station Least Biased overall, citing minimal editorializing and high sourcing standards as empirical counters to slant claims.

Technical information

Broadcast facilities

WJXT maintains its primary studios and production facilities at 4 Broadcast Place, 32207, situated on the south bank of the adjacent to Prudential Drive and Kings Avenue. This complex supports news gathering, program production, and operations, with the station deploying mobile production units equipped for live field reporting across its coverage region. The station's transmitter tower is positioned on Anders Boulevard in Jacksonville's Killarney Shores section. WJXT broadcasts its digital signal on physical RF channel 18 ( 4) at an of 670 kW, with the antenna mounted at a of 303.9 meters (997 feet). This configuration enables city-grade signal coverage throughout the Jacksonville metropolitan area, extending grade B service to northeastern counties including Duval, Nassau, St. Johns, Clay, and , as well as portions of southeastern Georgia such as Camden and Glynn counties. Fringe reception reaches further into , including areas near Brunswick, though signal strength diminishes with distance and terrain.

Subchannels and multicast

WJXT operates three subchannels via digital multicast using ATSC 1.0 standards, which permit the division of its 6 MHz channel bandwidth—approximately 19.4 Mbps total—into multiple streams without significantly degrading the primary high-definition feed. The main subchannel, 4.1, broadcasts the station's independent programming in 1080i HD, consuming the bulk of the multiplex capacity to maintain broadcast quality. Subchannel 4.2 carries DABL, a Warner Bros. Discovery-owned network focused on lifestyle programming and reruns. Subchannel 4.3 airs Start TV, Weigel Broadcasting's multicast service featuring classic crime dramas and shows targeted at female audiences. These secondary streams typically run at reduced bitrates and resolutions, such as 480i or 720p, enabling supplementary content delivery. Over-the-air reception occurs on virtual channel 4 via antennas, with subchannels accessible to equipped TVs after scanning. Cable and carriage mirrors this structure, often mapping to consecutive positions (e.g., 4.1–4.3), leveraging WJXT's independent affiliation for agile subchannel affiliations unbound by network mandates.
Virtual ChannelAffiliation/ProgrammingNotes
4.1WJXT (Independent, HD)Primary feed; news, syndication, local content
4.2Lifestyle, entertainment reruns
4.3Classic TV dramas

Digital transition and ATSC 3.0

WJXT ceased analog transmissions on June 12, 2009, in compliance with the U.S. federal mandate for the nationwide , shifting exclusively to digital broadcasts on UHF channel 18 while retaining 4. This move aligned with the Digital Television and Public Safety Act of 2005, which repurposed analog spectrum for public safety communications and , requiring full-power stations to vacate VHF/UHF analog channels by the deadline. In December 2024, WJXT launched (NextGen TV) operations on RF channel 18, functioning as the lighthouse station for the Jacksonville market by hosting signals for multiple affiliates, including its own programming and those from partners like WJCT Public Media. The upgrade, announced via a cooperative agreement with WJCT on December 9, 2024, and activated on December 10 at 10 a.m., enables with ATSC 1.0 receivers while introducing advanced capabilities such as 4K HDR video, immersive audio, and IP-based . ATSC 3.0 implementation at WJXT supports enhanced emergency alerting through datacasting and targeted public warnings, potentially improving signal reliability in adverse conditions like hurricanes common to via robust error correction and mobile reception features. The standard's IP integration facilitates over-the-air delivery of software updates and interactive content, reducing dependency on cable/ infrastructure for certain services, though viewer access requires compatible tuners or gateways. As of late 2024, the rollout prompted rescans for over-the-air antenna users to maintain WJXT reception during the transitional phase.

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