WJXT

WJXT is an independent commercial television station serving Jacksonville, Florida, and nearby communities in northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 4 and operates from studios at 4 Broadcast Place on Jacksonville's South Bank of the St. Johns River. Its transmitter is located in the Killarney Shores area of Jacksonville. WJXT is owned by Graham Media Group and operates alongside CW affiliate WCWJ, creating a local television duopoly under common ownership. The station began broadcasting on October 16, 1949, as WMBR-TV. It was Jacksonville's first television station and one of Florida's earliest television outlets. Initially affiliated primarily with CBS, it also carried programming from NBC, ABC, and the DuMont Television Network during the early years of American commercial television. The station's early competitive position was unusually strong because Jacksonville had limited local television competition. WMBR-TV began color broadcasts in 1954, becoming the first station in Florida to do so. The Washington Post Company acquired the WMBR stations in 1953. It later sold the AM and FM radio properties but retained the television station, changing its call sign to WJXT in 1958. WJXT remained associated with CBS for more than five decades and became one of the network's most established affiliates in the region. Its reach extended beyond Jacksonville through cable carriage in parts of northern and central Florida. The station also developed a durable local-news identity, including the Eyewitness News format, long-serving anchors, meteorologists, reporters, and sports personnel. A major strategic turning point came in 2002, when WJXT declined to renew its CBS affiliation. The dispute centered on CBS demands involving reverse compensation, complete network scheduling, and restrictions on preemptions. Station management concluded that accepting the proposed terms could reduce the amount of local programming it could provide. WJXT became independent on July 15, 2002, while the CBS affiliation moved to WTEV-TV, now WJAX-TV. Rather than reduce its output, WJXT expanded its local news schedule and filled former network time periods with syndicated programs, sports, and locally relevant content. The independent model became central to WJXT's identity. The station retained a large local-news operation and added programming blocks in the morning, early evening, and late evening. It continued to carry Jacksonville Jaguars preseason programming for one season after leaving CBS, although those rights moved to the new CBS affiliate in 2003. WJXT's news service was later branded News4JAX, linking its broadcast identity with its digital news operation and website. The station has remained a leading local news provider in the Jacksonville market and is noted for a comparatively high volume of locally produced newscasts. WJXT has also invested in technical modernization. Its local news programming transitioned to high definition in January 2009, followed by upgrades to graphics, cameras, control-room automation, and studio production systems. In 2009, longtime chief meteorologist George Winterling began a gradual retirement after nearly five decades associated with the station. WJXT expanded its digital content through partnerships such as its 2012 arrangement with Metro Jacksonville, which supplied locally focused urban-affairs material for News4JAX.com. In 2024, the station became a NextGen TV, or ATSC 3.0, lighthouse for the Jacksonville market, hosting ATSC 3.0 services for WJXT, WCWJ, and WJCT while its ATSC 1.0 services were simulcast elsewhere. Today, WJXT combines local television news, weather, traffic, sports, public-affairs coverage, syndicated entertainment, digital publishing, and selected live sports. In 2025 it announced an agreement to televise seven matches involving Sporting Club Jacksonville of the USL Super League. Its positioning is built around local independence, ex…

WJXT originated as WMBR-TV, signing on October 16, 1949, as Jacksonville's first television station. It operated on VHF channel 4 and was primarily affiliated with CBS, while also carrying selected NBC, ABC, and DuMont programs. The station was initially linked to WMBR radio. The Washington Post Company acquired the WMBR properties in 1953, and WMBR-TV introduced color programming in 1954, becoming the first Florida station reported to make that transition. As television competition developed, WMBR-TV lost its secondary NBC relationship when WFGA-TV began broadcasting in 1957. The Washington Post Company sold the WMBR radio stations in 1958 but kept the television station and changed its call sign to WJXT. WJXT continued as a CBS affiliate and became an important regional outlet because of its strong signal and cable distribution across portions of northern and central Florida. When WJKS-TV launched an ABC service in 1966, WJXT became exclusively associated with CBS. The station's ownership created a political and regulatory controversy in 1973. Because The Washington Post Company owned WJXT while The Washington Post was reporting aggressively on the Nixon administration and Watergate, supporters of President Nixon challenged the station's license renewal. WJXT general manager Robert W. Schellenberg organized the station's response, and the challenge did not prevent renewal. WJXT developed a strong local-news franchise during its CBS years. It used the Eyewitness News title from 1967 through 2005 and became known for long-serving on-air personalities. An especially durable evening team consisted of anchors Tom Wills and Deborah Gianoulis, chief meteorologist George Winterling, and sports director Sam Kouvaris. The group worked together for more than two decades, contributing to the station's reputation for continuity and local familiarity. Former staff members also included investigative reporter Steve Kroft, sports anchor Mike Patrick, reporter Randall Pinkston, and weekend anchor Toni Yates. The station's relationship with CBS became uncertain in the late 1990s as network affiliation economics changed. WJXT had carried Jaguars programming since the franchise began national AFC coverage on CBS in 1998 and received local rights to Jaguars preseason games and related shows in 2001. In early 2002, CBS sought terms that would have required WJXT to pay or surrender compensation under a reverse-compensation model and to carry the network's schedule with limited preemptions. Post-Newsweek Stations and WJXT management rejected the terms, arguing that they would constrain local programming. The station announced on April 3, 2002, that it would leave CBS when the contract expired. WTEV-TV, now WJAX-TV, took over the CBS affiliation, and the change became effective on July 15, 2002. WJXT responded by becoming a news-intensive independent station. It retained its existing newscasts, added weekday morning, early-evening, and late-evening news blocks, and filled former CBS periods with syndicated programs and sports. It kept Jaguars preseason programming for one additional season, but those broadcasts moved to WTEV in 2003. The independent strategy allowed WJXT to preserve a schedule tailored to Jacksonville rather than a fixed national network lineup. Its news operation remained one of the market's largest, with extensive weekday and weekend coverage. In 2009, the station completed a phased conversion of local news to high definition and modernized its cameras, graphics, control room, and automation. Winterling announced a semi-retirement that year after nearly 47 years as chief meteorologist. WJXT expanded its digital and community presence during the 2010s. A 2012 partnership with Metro Jacksonville provided additional urban-affairs content for News4JAX.com, and the station expanded its weekday morning newscast in 2013. In 2014, it refreshed its logo and adopted News4JAX as its principal news identity, while retaining the broader slogan The Local Station. Graham Media Group acquired WCWJ in January 2017 as part of regulatory divestitures associated with the Nexstar-Media General merger. The transaction placed WJXT and WCWJ under common ownership and created Graham Media's first duopoly. The stations share facilities at 4 Broadcast Place, although WJXT maintains its own news operation. WJXT completed another technical transition in December 2024 by becoming the Jacksonville market's ATSC 3.0 lighthouse. Its ATSC 1.0 services were moved to partner stations for simulcasting, while WJXT hosted NextGen TV versions of services associated with WJXT, WCWJ, and WJCT. In 2025, the station expanded its sports portfolio through an agreement to broadcast seven Sporting Club Jacksonville matches from the USL Super League. WJXT therefore remains an active independent broadcaster whose core identity combines local news leadership, regional service, digital publishing, technical experimentation, and selected sports rights.

• 2024

  ATSC 3.0 lighthouse conversion

  [1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  WJXT becomes the Jacksonville market's NextGen TV lighthouse station.

• 2017

  WCWJ joins the Graham Media portfolio

  [1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  Graham Media Group completes its acquisition of WCWJ, establishing a WJXT-WCWJ duopoly.

• 2009

  Local news moves to high definition

  [1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  A phased technical upgrade brings WJXT's local newscasts into high-definition production.

• 2002

  Transition to independence

  [1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  WJXT ends its long CBS affiliation and expands local news and alternative programming as an independent station.

• 1967

  Eyewitness News era begins

  [1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  The station begins using the Eyewitness News format for its local newscasts.

• 1958

  WJXT call sign adopted

  [1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  The Washington Post Company retains the television station after selling the radio properties and changes the call sign to WJXT.

• 1954

  First Florida color broadcasts

  [1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  WMBR-TV begins transmitting color programming, an early technical milestone for Florida television.

• 1949

  WMBR-TV begins broadcasting

  [1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  The station signs on as Jacksonville's first television station on VHF channel 4 and becomes a primary CBS affiliate.

A news-intensive independent station positioned as Jacksonville's locally focused television outlet, emphasizing regional reporting, weather expertise, community coverage, and schedule flexibility outside the constraints of a national network affiliation.

• Local television news · 2014

  News4JAX

  WJXT's principal local-news identity, covering Jacksonville and the surrounding region through morning, daytime, evening, and late-night newscasts. The operation emphasizes breaking news, local government, weather, traffic, investigations, community affairs, and regional sports. It also supports the News4JAX.com digital platform with articles, live video, weather information, and web-exclusive content.

• Weather service

  Local weather coverage

  A major part of WJXT's service offering, with daily forecasts, severe-weather reporting, hurricane information, and region-specific coverage for northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia. The station's long association with meteorologist George Winterling helped establish weather expertise as a central part of its local-news proposition.

• Sports broadcasting · 2001

  Local sports programming

  WJXT has carried locally relevant sports programming, including Jacksonville Jaguars preseason games and related programs, syndicated college sports, and selected live events. In 2025, it announced plans to broadcast seven Sporting Club Jacksonville matches from the USL Super League.

• NextGen TV broadcasting · 2024

  ATSC 3.0 service

  WJXT serves as a Jacksonville ATSC 3.0 lighthouse, hosting NextGen TV transmissions associated with WJXT, WCWJ, and WJCT. Conventional ATSC 1.0 versions of the station's services are carried through other broadcasters for continued compatibility with legacy receivers.

• 1973

  Watergate-related license-renewal challenge

  Supporters of President Richard Nixon challenged WJXT's license renewal in the context of The Washington Post Company's Watergate coverage. The station successfully defended the renewal challenge.

  Source

Read more

• 2014News4JAX rebrand

  Jacksonville · Northeastern Florida · Southeastern Georgia

  WJXT refreshed its visual identity and aligned its television news branding with the News4JAX digital name and website.

  Outcome. The News4JAX identity remains the station's principal news brand, alongside the slogan The Local Station.

  Source

• 2024

  Become an ATSC 3.0 lighthouse stationGeneration change

  Background

  The Jacksonville television market was moving toward NextGen TV transmission while continuing to serve households with legacy ATSC 1.0 receivers.

  Action taken

  WJXT converted its primary transmission role to ATSC 3.0 and moved ATSC 1.0 simulcasts to other broadcasters.

  Aftermath

  WJXT became the market lighthouse for ATSC 3.0 services associated with WJXT, WCWJ, and WJCT.

  Source

• 2017

  Create a WJXT-WCWJ duopolyM&A

  Background

  WCWJ was divested as part of regulatory remedies connected with the proposed Nexstar-Media General merger.

  Action taken

  Graham Media Group acquired WCWJ and placed it alongside WJXT under common ownership.

  Aftermath

  WJXT gained a CW-affiliated sister station and Graham Media Group established its first duopoly.

  Reported transaction value for WCWJ and WSLS-TV. $120 million (Announced May 27, 2016; completed January 17, 2017)

  Source

• 2009

  Convert local newscasts to high definitionGeneration change

  Background

  WJXT sought to modernize its news production and remain competitive in a changing local television market.

  Action taken

  The station introduced high-definition newscasts in phases, along with new graphics, updated music, robotic cameras, and automated control-room systems.

  Aftermath

  WJXT became the first Jacksonville station identified in the reference material as having local newscasts in high definition.

  Source

• 2002

  Leave the CBS affiliation and operate independentlyStrategy

  Background

  CBS sought affiliation terms involving reverse compensation, full-schedule carriage, and limited program preemptions. WJXT and its owner believed those conditions could reduce local programming flexibility.

  Action taken

  Post-Newsweek Stations declined to renew the affiliation, and WJXT became independent when the CBS agreement expired in July 2002.

  Aftermath

  The station expanded local news, added syndicated programming and alternative sports content, and retained a strong local-service identity. CBS moved to WTEV-TV, now WJAX-TV.

  • WTEV-TV, now WJAX-TV — The station signed an agreement to become Jacksonville's new CBS affiliate.

  Source

• 2025

  WJXT announces Sporting Club Jacksonville broadcasts[1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  The station announces an agreement to televise seven Sporting Club Jacksonville matches from the USL Super League.

• 2024

  WJXT becomes Jacksonville ATSC 3.0 lighthouse[1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Product launch

  WJXT begins hosting the market's ATSC 3.0 transmission, while its ATSC 1.0 services are simulcast by other broadcasters.

• 2017

  Graham Media Group acquires WCWJ[1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Graham Media Group completes its purchase of WCWJ, giving WJXT a commonly owned CW sister station and creating Graham's first television duopoly.

• 2014

  WJXT begins News4JAX branding[1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  The station updates its visual identity and adopts News4JAX for its news operation, connecting broadcast branding with its digital presence.

• 2009

  WJXT launches high-definition local news[1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Product launch

  The station completes a phased conversion of its local newscasts to high definition, with new graphics, music, cameras, and production automation.

• 2002

  WJXT announces departure from CBS[1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Post-Newsweek Stations announces that WJXT will not renew its CBS affiliation after negotiations over compensation, scheduling, and preemption terms.

• 2002

  WJXT becomes an independent station[1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The station ends its 53-year CBS relationship and launches an expanded independent schedule centered on local news, syndicated programming, and selected sports.

• 1958

  WMBR-TV changes call sign to WJXT[1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After the Washington Post Company sells the related radio stations, it retains the television outlet and adopts the WJXT call letters.

• 1954

  WMBR-TV begins color broadcasting[1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The station begins transmitting color programming and is identified as the first Florida station to do so.

• 1949

  WJXT signs on as WMBR-TV[1]WJXTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Jacksonville's first television station begins broadcasting on VHF channel 4 as WMBR-TV, with CBS as its primary affiliation.

1. 1WJXTen.wikipedia.org
2. 2News4JAX official websitenews4jax.com