WJCT Public Media

What WJCT Public Media does

WJCT Public Media is an independent nonprofit (501(c)(3)) public broadcasting organization founded in 1958 and headquartered at 100 Festival Park Avenue in Jacksonville, Florida. The organization operates a multi-platform media portfolio serving 1.7 million citizens across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, comprising television broadcasting (Jax PBS on VHF Channel 7 with sub-channels Create, Kids, and More!; rebranded from WJCT-TV in February 2021), radio (WJCT News 89.9 FM converted to all news/talk format in July 2020, plus HD sub-channels Classical 24 HD2, Anthology HD3, Jacksonville's Jazz Radio HD4 launched May 2025, and The Independent HD4 launched April 2022), digital-first local journalism (Jacksonville Today launched fall 2021), and music editorial (Jacksonville Music Experience/JME launched April 2020). Supporting technology includes a broadcast transmission tower at 8675 Hogan Road (18kW ERP on RF Channel 9 at 174 MHz, with 98kW ERP on FM), the WJCT App for iOS/Android, smart speaker integration (Alexa, Google Home), and streaming distribution across Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, smart TVs, and cable systems (Comcast/Xfinity, AT&T U-Verse).

The organization's business model relies on a diversified revenue mix including individual donor memberships (anchored by the Jax PBS Passport member benefit at $60/year or $5/month threshold, plus WJCT News Now podcast subscriptions via Supporting Cast), corporate sponsorships (category-exclusive underwriting across TV, radio, digital, and event channels reaching 1.5 million weekly viewers and listeners), foundation grants (notably $1M from Florida Blue in May 2024 and $500K from Arthur Vining Davis Foundations in October 2021), planned giving/legacy programs, and event revenue (Soundstage concerts, Film at WJCT Studios, Be My Neighbor Day, Caregiving Series). The customer base includes educated, affluent Northeast Florida residents, local and regional businesses across healthcare (Baptist Health, Mayo Clinic), legal/financial, arts, utilities, and sports sectors, plus educational institutions and civic news consumers. Strategic initiatives include cooperative NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) launch with WJXT (December 2024), the Northeast Florida News Collaborative (January 2026), and partnership-driven product expansion, while leadership transitions from retiring CEO David McGowan to incoming CEO Karen Feagins (effective July 31, 2026) signal a new strategic chapter for the 67-year-old institution.

Name

WJCT Public Media

Legal name

WJCT, Inc.

Website

https://wjct.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

WJCT Public Media is a Jacksonville-based nonprofit public broadcaster operating Jax PBS television, WJCT News 89.9 FM radio, Jacksonville Today digital news, and the Jacksonville Music Experience, serving 1.7 million citizens across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia through member donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Television Broadcasting Stations (51612)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Media Digital Platforms & Streaming (Apps, On-demand, Podcasts) (MPABADAG), Educational/Instructional Public Media Services (Schools, Distance Learning) (MPABADAH), Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)

Keywords

• Public broadcasting
• Public television
• Public radio
• Local journalism
• Music programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville, Florida

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership/Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from viewers and listeners at various giving levels, including monthly sustainer programs and one-time gifts. Benefits include Jax PBS Passport access at $60/year or $5/month threshold.
2. Corporate Sponsorship/Underwriting: Category-exclusive sponsorship messages on television and radio programs, digital banner ads, sponsored content, e-newsletters, and event sponsorships. Sponsors align with public media's prestige brand positioning.
3. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including Florida Blue ($1M), Arthur Vining Davis Foundations ($500k), Jessie Ball duPont Fund, and Report for America supporting Local Journalism Initiative and education programs.
4. Planned Giving/Legacy Programs: Bequests, IRA charitable rollovers, charitable gift annuities, stock donations, real estate gifts, and life insurance donations supporting long-term station sustainability.
5. Event Revenue: Ticket sales and donations for Soundstage concerts, Film at WJCT Studios screenings, JME events, and community workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WJCT Public Media is a nonprofit public broadcasting organization that operates multi-platform media services for Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, including Jax PBS television (Channel 7.1 with sub-channels), WJCT News 89.9 FM radio (with Classical 24 HD2, Anthology HD3, and Jacksonville's Jazz Radio HD4), digital local news through Jacksonville Today, and music content via the Jacksonville Music Experience (JME). The organization reaches 1.7 million citizens through broadcast, digital streaming, podcasts, and live events, funded primarily by individual memberships/donations, corporate sponsorship/underwriting, and foundation grants.

Product overview

WJCT Public Media operates a multi-platform public media organization serving Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, comprising television (Jax PBS and sub-channels), radio (WJCT News 89.9 FM with HD sub-channels Classical 24 HD2, Anthology HD3, Jacksonville's Jazz Radio HD4, and The Independent HD4), digital news (Jacksonville Today), music programming (Jacksonville Music Experience / JME), podcasts (WJCT News Now, NPR+ Podcast Bundle, Kingpins & Catalysts), educational programs (PBS Kids, workshops, writers contest, TEACH Conference), and live events (Film at WJCT Studios, Be My Neighbor Day, Sweater Drive, Soundstage concerts, Caregiving Series). The Jax PBS Passport subscription provides extended on-demand content access for donors. The WJCT App enables mobile access to all radio streams and content. The portfolio is unified by WJCT Public Media's mission to deliver local news, education, arts, and cultural programming across broadcast, digital, and in-person channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Jax PBS Jax PBS is WJCT's primary over-the-air and streaming television service offering PBS and locally produced programming on Channel 7.1, with multi-channel sub-stations including Jax PBS Create, Jax PBS Kids, and Jax PBS More!. It serves viewers in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.
• WJCT News 89.9 FM WJCT's flagship NPR-affiliated news/talk radio station at 89.9 FM, featuring local news, talk shows including First Coast Connect and The Florida Roundup, and the WJCT News Now podcast. Available via FM broadcast, digital audio stream, mobile apps, and smart speakers.
• Jax PBS Passport A membership benefit providing extended on-demand access to a library of PBS and Jax PBS programming, available to donors contributing at least $60/year or $5/month. Accessible via the PBS App on web, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, smart TVs, and Comcast platforms.
• Jacksonville Music Experience (JME) JME is WJCT's dedicated music editorial brand and platform offering music reviews, local artist profiles, curated playlists, a live music calendar, and the radio stations Classical 24 HD2, Anthology HD3, and Jacksonville's Jazz Radio HD4. Also produces programs including The Neighborhood with Mr. Al Pete, Electro Lounge, Blues Horizon, Tiny Desk Radio, and Bop City.
• Jacksonville Today Jacksonville Today is WJCT's local digital-first news service providing original local reporting and curated news from regional sources, delivered as a daily email newsletter and through a full website. Won the 2023 Local Media Association Award and 2026 Nonprofit News Award.
• Classical 24 89.9 HD2 HD Radio sub-channel (89.9 HD2) delivering 24-hour classical music programming, available over the air, online at jaxmusic.org, via the WJCT App, and with Sunday evening broadcasts of the Jacksonville Symphony.
• Jacksonville's Jazz Radio 89.9 HD4 HD Radio sub-channel (89.9 HD4) featuring contemporary and classic jazz programming, including the locally produced 'Bop City' show hosted by Daniel Stark celebrating bebop legacy, airing Saturdays at 9 p.m.
• Anthology 89.9 HD3 HD Radio sub-channel (89.9 HD3) curated by Music Director David Luckin, playing nostalgic 60s, 70s, and 80s music, available over the air and through digital streaming.
• Jax PBS Kids 24/7 A dedicated 24/7 children's programming channel featuring PBS KIDS shows available online and via streaming, complementing educational outreach programs like the Jax PBS Kids Writers Contest and Kids Club.
• WJCT News Now A member benefit providing supporters access to podcast perks including NPR sponsor-free listening and WJCT News 89.9 bonus podcasts, delivered via Supporting Cast platform through a private RSS feed accessible in podcast apps.
• NPR+ Podcast Bundle A podcast subscription bundle providing NPR sponsor-free listening and exclusive WJCT News 89.9 bonus podcasts for supporters of WJCT News 89.9.
• WJCT App Native mobile application for iOS and Android enabling live radio streaming of WJCT News 89.9 and all HD sub-channels, podcast access, and on-demand content viewing.
• Radio Reading Service A specialized service providing radio reading for individuals who are blind or print-impaired, broadcasting readings of newspapers, magazines, and other printed materials.
• Corporate Sponsorship / Business Partner Program Corporate sponsorship and underwriting programs allowing businesses to associate with PBS and NPR brands, reaching WJCT's educated, affluent audience of 1.7 million citizens across television, radio, digital, and event channels with category-exclusive messaging.
• Jax PBS Kids Club A children's membership program offering activities, resources, and engagement for young learners and their families, aligned with PBS KIDS educational content.
• PBS Kids Writers Contest Annual creative writing competition for K-3 students in the First Coast area, part of the PBS KIDS Writers Contest national program, encouraging children to develop reading and writing skills.
• Family and Community Learning Workshops Multi-generational PBS KIDS in-person workshops for families at early childhood centers throughout Jacksonville, developed in partnership with the Kids Hope Alliance and UNF, providing skills for children and caregivers to grow together.
• The WJCT Soundstage A live music performance venue and event space at WJCT Studios hosting concerts, artist performances, and special events including the JME Soundstage Series.
• Film at WJCT Studios A film screening and discussion series at WJCT Studios featuring independent films, documentaries, and special presentations, often with post-screening panel discussions and community engagement.

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration25 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VyStar Credit UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026WJCT Public Media and VyStar Credit Union launched Caregiving Event Series to support Northeast Florida caregivers, providing resources and support for the caregiving community.
• London's National Theatre and BY ExperiencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2025WJCT Public Media partnered with London's National Theatre and BY Experience to bring the acclaimed National Theatre Live theatrical experience to Jacksonville. This partnership allows local audiences to experience world-class theatrical productions in their community.
• WJXT (Channel 4)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2024WJCT Public Media and WJXT agreed to cooperative launch of NextGen TV in Jacksonville, bringing advanced television broadcasting capabilities to the market.
• Jacksonville SymphonycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2024WJCT Public Media and Jacksonville Symphony partnered to bring Classical Concerts to a wider audience through broadcast and digital distribution.
• Kids Hope AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 August 2023WJCT Public Media partnered with Kids Hope Alliance to present Family and Community Learning workshops for families at early childhood centers throughout Jacksonville.
• Florida TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2023WJCT Public Media partnered with Florida Theatre to launch the Untold Stories Radio Show, expanding local arts and cultural programming.
• Florida State College at JacksonvilleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2023WJCT Public Media partnered with Florida State College at Jacksonville to create Bygone Jax: Our Unsung History, a local history series.
• BritBoxcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 December 2020WJCT launched a first-of-its-kind streaming bundle combining PBS Passport and BritBox, giving members access to British content alongside PBS programming.
• StoryCorpsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2020WJCT Public Media partnered with StoryCorps to foster conversations across American ideological divides through community engagement.
• WLRNcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2017WJCT and WLRN partnered to present The Florida Roundup, a statewide news program providing coverage of Florida issues.
• Supporting CastcoreTechnology or IntegrationSupporting Cast powers the seamless listening experience for WJCT News Now podcasts and audio content, providing the technology platform for member podcast benefits.
• PBScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWJCT is the PBS affiliate for Northeast Florida, carrying national PBS programming and local PBS Kids content.
• NPRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWJCT is the NPR affiliate for Northeast Florida, carrying NPR news programming and participating in NPR+ Podcast Bundle.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WETA: WETA is the public broadcasting station serving the Washington DC area, operating PBS and NPR affiliate channels with similar multi-platform structure including TV, radio, digital, and educational programming. Both are member stations of PBS/NPR with comparable revenue models (membership, underwriting, grants) and similar nonprofit 501(c)(3) governance.
• WLRN Public Media: WLRN is the South Florida public broadcasting station serving Miami, and is explicitly named as WJCT's partner on The Florida Roundup statewide news program. Both are Florida-based PBS/NPR member stations with similar audience reach, membership models, and educational programming focus.
• WGBH: WGBH is the flagship public broadcasting station in Boston, operating multiple TV channels, radio stations, and digital platforms including GBH News. Both organizations serve as regional PBS/NPR anchors with comparable local journalism initiatives, educational programming, and member-supported business models.
• Nashville Public Television (NPT): NPT is the PBS member station serving the Nashville, Tennessee market with comparable regional reach, member-supported model, and multi-channel offerings. NPT represents a similar mid-market public broadcasting organization with analogous programming, fundraising, and operational structure.
• WUSF Public Media: WUSF is the Tampa Bay area public broadcasting station operating PBS and NPR services. As a fellow Florida PBS/NPR member station, WUSF shares the same regulatory environment (FCC licensing, CPB funding eligibility), audience characteristics (older, educated, affluent), and revenue model structure as WJCT.
• WUFT Public Media: WUFT is the University of Florida-licensed public broadcasting station serving North Central Florida (Gainesville area). Operating under similar university/public broadcasting hybrid model, WUFT shares comparable mission, audience characteristics, and operational scale with WJCT in its regional market.
• WMFE / WUCF (Central Florida Public Media): WMFE/WUCF is the Central Florida public broadcasting organization serving Orlando, operating PBS TV and NPR radio stations. Both are Florida-based public media stations with comparable audience scale, educational programming (PBS Kids), and member-supported business models.

Broad incumbents

• NPR: NPR is the national public radio network that WJCT's WJCT News 89.9 FM is affiliated with. NPR provides the news programming, the NPR+ podcast platform, and the institutional brand that anchors WJCT's radio operations, making it the most direct upstream counterpart for the radio business.
• PBS: PBS is the national public broadcasting network of which WJCT is a member station. PBS provides the programming content, brand, and technical infrastructure (including the Passport streaming platform) that enables WJCT's TV operations, making it the most direct upstream counterpart for the TV business.
• Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB): GPB operates a statewide public broadcasting network covering Georgia, directly adjacent to WJCT's Southeast Georgia coverage area. GPB is a broader incumbent with statewide reach that overlaps WJCT's regional footprint, offering comparable PBS programming, NPR content, and educational services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wjct
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WJCTPublicMedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/WJCTPublicMedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wjctjax

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WJCT Public Media