Events

• Spring 2008 Event to kick off anniversary (arts and cultural diversity)

• May 31, 2008 at 10am  Annual Reading Celebration - Share A Story (event info)

• May 31, June 1-2, 7-9, 2008 Auction Reunion (event info)

• August 23, 2008 10am-2pm Family Open House
This is event is open to the entire community and offers information and a hands-on, interactive experience with all aspects of WJCT.

• September 12, 2008 – Gala

WJCT Milestones

• 1958. On September 10, “Channel 7” begins broadcasting as the community’s educational television station. WJCT fills its first month with national educational programming.

• 1958. In October, WJCT airs nation’s first coast-to-coast televised college course allowing college credits, Principles of Modern Physics.

• 1959. In January, WJCT partners with JSO to present The Magic of Music. The 13-week series is another national first – weekly broadcasts of symphonic music for school children.

• 1960. In 1960, WJCT became the second station in the nation to hold a fundraising Auction, launching a tradition that has engaged community support for nearly 50 years. photo

• 1966. WJCT begins televising county budget hearings and other legislative activities. In 1967, WJCT televises the Jacksonville consolidation hearings and produces several special on the issue.

• 1967. President Johnson signs the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, and Channel 7 becomes known as a “public” TV station.

• 1968. WJCT receives a national grant from the Ford Foundation to produce an innovative series called Feedback. The nation’s first interactive public affairs program, the series facilitated community-wide town hall meetings and soon became the most copied public affairs format on public TV. photo

• 1968. Long before the debut of the “mini-cam,” WJCT devises the “mini-mote.” The compact, two-camera portable unit permits live broadcasting from any location and facilitates gavel-to-gavel coverage of public meetings and debates.

• 1972. “Stereo 90”, Jacksonville’s public radio station, goes on the air. photo

• 1973. April. Channel 7 begins production of statewide legislative series, Today in the Legislature.

• 1973. In October, WJCT’s “Channel 7” and “Stereo 90” partnered to present the station’s first live simulcast of Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra concert.

• 1977. WJCT invests $1.3 million in a partnership with city and federal governments, creating Metropolitan Park for First Coast residents and obtaining rights to park access for special events.

• 1979. In January, Channel 7 makes national news by broadcasting the first three-state satellite interconnection, the one-hour Gator Bowl Preview viewed by residents of Ohio, South Carolina, and Florida.

• 1980. Jacksonville Mayor Jake Goldbold comes to Channel 7’s studio to participate in a national conference on mass transportation, one of 10 mayors across the country to speak with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Neil Goldschmidt. This is the third such conference for WJCT.

• 1983. Channel 7 began broadcasting from its new location on its 25th anniversary, September 10, 1983.

• 1985. WJCT’s soundstage attracts national producers, with Intimate Strangers (starring Stacy Keach and Terri Garr) filming here.

• 1990. Ken Burns’ The Civil War gathers critical acclaim and a national audience.

• 1991. In July, WJCT begins broadcasting the weekly public affairs series, The Poll Cats.

• 1994. WJCT launches Radio Reading Service, an information and entertainment service for the visually-impaired.

• 1997. WJCT becomes a “Ready to Learn” station, committing a significant portion of its weekly daytime schedule to educational PBS children’s programs in support of national and local school readiness and family literacy goals.

• 2003. On May 1, WJCT-TV begins broadcasting from its digital transmitter, in compliance with FCC guidelines. The digital broadcast successfully concludes a five-year effort, during which the station successfully built and launched a second television station (in addition to its analog station).

• 2003. WJCT launches First Coast Forum, an interactive community forum simulcast live on WJCT-TV and WJCT-FM.

• 2005. WJCT officially launches digital "multicasting," and the Times-Union soon says that WJCT is “ahead of the curve” in digital offerings. Today, WJCT-DT’s offerings include WJCT HD (high-definition), WJCT Kids, WJCT Create (do-it-yourself), WJCT PBS World (nonfiction programming), WJCT & Partners (Florida and the First Coast), and the Florida Knowledge Network (classroom programs).

• 2005. In November, 89.9 FM WJCT begins broadcasting in digital, becoming the first full-power radio broadcaster in North Florida to offer an HD radio service.

• 2006. In May, 89.9 FM begins broadcasting 89.9 HD Arts, becoming the first full-power radio broadcaster in North Florida to broadcast a second full HD radio stream. Today, 89.9 HD also offers a third stream, NOAA Weather Radio.

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