WJCT
 | |
| Jacksonville, Florida United States | |
|---|---|
| Branding | WJCT |
| Slogan |
your community your world |
| Channels |
Digital: 7 (VHF) Virtual: 7 (PSIP) |
| Affiliations |
|
| Owner | WJCT, Inc. |
| First air date | September 10, 1958 |
| Call letters' meaning |
Jacksonville Community Television |
| Sister station(s) | WJCT-FM |
| Former channel number(s) |
|
| Former affiliations | NET (1958–1970) |
| Transmitter power | 18 kW |
| Height | 302 m |
| Facility ID | 73130 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 30°16′51″N 81°34′12″W / 30.28083°N 81.57000°WCoordinates: 30°16′51″N 81°34′12″W / 30.28083°N 81.57000°W |
| Licensing authority | FCC |
| Public license information: |
Profile CDBS |
| Website | www.wjct.org |
WJCT is the public broadcasting station of Jacksonville, Florida. It serves the First Coast region, and provides national and local programming through PBS-affiliated television station WJCT-TV (local digital channel 7), NPR member radio station WJCT-FM (channel 89.9), and WJCT Online.[1]
Television
WJCT's television station is virtual and VHF digital channel 7, and is the PBS member station for the Jacksonville area. Its studio facilities are located on Festival Park Avenue, near EverBank Field in Downtown Jacksonville's Stadium District, and its transmitter is located on Hogan Road in the Brackridge neighborhood.
The station first signed on the air on September 10, 1958. WJCT's schedule includes programming from PBS and other programming services, including the BBC, American Public Television and the National Educational Television Association. WJCT also produces and broadcasts local news, public affairs programs and documentaries.
On April 6, 2009, WJCT's analog signal on channel 7 left the air for good.[2][3]
| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP Short Name | Programming[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | 720p | 16:9 | WJCT7-1 | Main WJCT programming / PBS |
| 7.2 | 480i | 4:3 | WJCT7-2 | Create |
| 7.3 | WJCT7-3 | World | ||
| 7.4 | WJCT7-4 | WJCT More! (6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.) The Florida Channel (6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.) | ||
WJCT-TV (7.1)
WJCT Public Television began broadcasting on September 10, 1958. WJCT offers more than 52 hours per week of children's educational series and features primetime programming from PBS, American Public Television, BBC and NETA. Drama, science, history, fine arts, music and public affairs are among the program genres featured. WJCT also produces and broadcasts local news and public affairs programs and documentaries.[5]
WJCT Create (7.2)
Create TV was launched in 2006 to serve viewers’ interest in do-it-yourself programs. Program genres seen on Create® TV include public television series and specials on cooking, travel, home improvement, gardening, arts and crafts, and other lifestyle interests. The programs seen on Create TV come from American Public Television, The National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).[6]
WJCT World (7.3)
WORLD℠ is a 24/7, full service multicast channel featuring public television’s signature nonfiction documentary, science and news programming complemented by original content from emerging producers.[7]
WJCT More! (7.4)
WJCT's fourth television channel features two major blocks of programming. The first programming block is The Florida Channel, which is broadcast weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on WJCT More. The second programming block is additional (hence the name "More!") programming similar to the kind seen regularly on WJCT-TV (7.1), which airs from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. each weekday and throughout the weekend. This programming block is often either themed by genre or features marathons of a specific show.
Florida Knowledge Network
WJCT previously operated a fifth subchannel that operated in a timeshare format in the same manner as digital subchannel 7.4, consisting of Florida Knowledge Network (airing weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and "WJCT Informational" (airing weekdays from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and all day on weekends); this service was discontinued July 1, 2011 following the closure of the Florida Knowledge Network.
Radio
| City | Jacksonville, Florida |
|---|---|
| Branding | WJCT |
| Slogan |
your community your world |
| Frequency | 89.9 (MHz) |
| First air date | 1972 |
| Format |
Public radio Classical music (HD2) "Relax Radio" (HD3) [8] |
| ERP | 98,000 Watts |
| HAAT | 251 meters |
| Class | C1 |
| Facility ID | 73125 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 30°16′51.8″N 81°34′11.9″W / 30.281056°N 81.569972°W |
| Callsign meaning |
W Jacksonville Community Television (after its television counterpart) |
| Affiliations | National Public Radio |
| Owner | WJCT Inc. |
| Sister stations | WJCT (TV) |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | WJCT Radio |
WJCT-FM (89.9 MHz) is the NPR-member public radio station in Jacksonville, Florida. It is sister station to PBS member WJCT. The station has been on the air since 1972, and airs NPR news and talk during the week and a mix of news, talk, eclectic music on weekends. Original programming includes First Coast Connect and locally produced music shows specializing in chill out, indie, blues, country, doo wop and more.
WJCT Public Radio (89.9 FM, HD1)
Launched in 1972, 89.9 WJCT-FM is WJCT's original radio channel. Programming consists of news and public affairs programming during the day and music programs at night.
WJCT Arts (89.9 HD2)
WJCT Arts is a 24/7 HD radio station featuring classical music. WJCT's flagship radio program First Coast Connect and popular talk program Fresh Air (hosted by Terry Gross), each staples of WJCT Public Radio (89.9 FM), air from 7-9 p.m. weekday nights on WJCT Arts.
Relax Radio (89.9 HD3)
Relax Radio is a 24/7 HD radio station featuring more than 3,500 easy listening songs that span the spectrum of time, from Bing Crosby to Michael Bublé.
When Jacksonville's premier easy listening radio station of half a century went off the air in late 2014, listeners contacted WJCT in hopes that something could be done to fill the void left in the community. WJCT created Relax Radio in response to these requests. Relax blends oldies, light jazz, orchestral pop, music from the Great American Songbook and new favorites in a fresh way intended to appeal to baby boomers and younger listeners alike. The 24 hour music service also features NPR News updates and weather information at the top of every hour.[9]
Online and Digital Services
WJCT Online
The official WJCT website offers extensive content including television and radio schedules, local news, corporate and station news, digital channel information, events, educational/kids pages, podcasts, blogs, access to on-demand video streaming of local productions,[10] and more.[11]
WJCT News
On April 1, 2013, WJCT launched WJCT News,[12] an online news source to complement the news reports and programming on 89.9 WJCT-FM. WJCT News features local and national news stories, photos and bios of WJCT’s news team, podcasts, information about locally produced programs, and tools to stream 89.9 WJCT-FM live.[13]
The WJCT App
The WJCT App, launched in October 2015, allows public broadcasting fans on and beyond the First Coast to connect with WJCT in a brand new way. The app provides easy access to PBS programs on demand (including PBS Kids programs), WJCT's radio and television schedules, WJCT News and more. Use of the app isn't limited to WJCT's listening and viewing area, which allows First Coast residents to watch their favorite WJCT, NPR and PBS content "anytime, anywhere." The WJCT App is free to download in the Apple App Store and Google Play.[9]
WJCT Radio Reading Service
Broadcast on a closed-circuit subchannel of 89.9 WJCT-FM, this 24/7 service provides readings of local and national newspapers, books and other materials to assist visually impaired individuals.
History
Before the Airwaves
In 1952, Dr. Heywood Dowling, a local podiatrist, learned that the Federal Communications Commission had reserved 242 local television channels for non-commercial educational use, including Channel 7 in Jacksonville. Dowling began a six-year effort to license and fund an educational television station for Florida's First Coast.[14]
Today in the Legislature
In 1973, Florida Public Broadcasting, a joint venture between WJCT and Tallahassee PBS station WFSU-TV, under the aegis of the Florida Public Broadcasting Service, began a program covering of the Florida Legislature, which was syndicated to Florida’s eight PBS member stations, from a mobile facility located on the grounds of the State Capitol. The program, Today in the Legislature, was the first of its kind in the United States, preceding legislative programs in other states, and U.S. Congressional coverage by C-SPAN.[15]
Reaction to the first year of the program was positive.[16][17] The state legislature dedicated funds to expand the program, managed exclusively by WJCT-TV.[18] Production facilities migrated into the (old) Capitol building, with engineering and studio facilities constructed on the third floor. The first broadcast from the new facility was on April 2, 1974. Today in the Legislature expanded into an hour-long weekday program during the legislative session, with a one-hour Spanish language summary, Hoy en la Legislatura produced on Fridays as well as a sign language program. It was hosted by veteran broadcaster Jim Lewis, with additional commentary by Elizabeth "Bib" Willis.[19] Research, engineering, and production crews were composed chiefly of recent graduates from the Florida State University Department of Communications (now the Florida State University College of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts), nearly all under the age of 25, including future Georgia legislator Chesley V. Morton, who worked as a still photographer and camera operator for the program as well as producer Elliott C. Mitchell and director John P. Leu.[20][21][22] Today in the Legislature was described as a "unique blend of television of record and more conventional news coverage."[15][23] A research study concluded that the program generated more positive attitudes about the legislature and increased political knowledge in adolescents who viewed the broadcast, although only 12% found the programming to be "interesting".[24]
References
- ↑ "About WJCT". www.wjct.org. WJCT. 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- ↑ List of Digital Full-Power Stations
- ↑ Jacksonville TV stations might not wait to switch to digital, The Florida Times-Union, February 6, 2009.
- ↑ RabbitEars TV Query for WJCT
- ↑ WJCT's Media Showcase
- ↑ http://createtv.com/about/
- ↑ http://worldchannel.org/about/
- ↑ Edgier easy listening returns to the air on Jacksonville's WJCT-FM's HD3 station. The Florida Times-Union, April 1, 2015.
- 1 2 http://www.wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2015-CPB-Report-Final_01.pdf
- ↑ http://www.wjct.org/ondemand/
- ↑ WJCT Media Showcase
- ↑ http://news.wjct.org/
- ↑ http://www.wjct.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wjct-annual-report-2013.pdf
- ↑ WJCT History: The First 50 Years
- 1 2 | "Today in the Legislature" A Florida Story. David J. LeRoy, C. Edward Wotring, Jack Lyle. Journal of Communication. Volume 24, Issue 3. p.92-98 Sept 1974
- ↑ | Reaction and Evaluation of "Today in the Legislature" by Legislators, Capital Press and the Public. Authors David C. LeRoy and C. Edward Wotring
- ↑ | American Bar Association Journal. Volume 60, p.1585. December, 1974
- ↑ Public affairs become more and more public, Broadcasting Magazine, August 18, 1974.
- ↑ Network Meets in Sarasota, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, June 23, 1984.
- ↑ House Resolution 1285
- ↑ John Patrick Leu
- ↑ Elliott C. MITCHELL III
- ↑ 'Today in the Legislature' Informed of the Happenings, St. Petersburg Times, March 31, 1974.
- ↑ | Public Television and Political Socialization; A Field Experiment on the Impact of a Public Television Series on the Political Knowledge, Attitudes and Communication Behaviors of Adolescents. Authors: Charles K. Atkin and Bradley S. Greenberg
External links
- WJCT official website
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WJCT
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WJCT-TV
- Query the FCC's FM station database for WJCT
- Radio-Locator information on WJCT
- Query Nielsen Audio's FM station database for WJCT
