Sharks Launch Broadcast Partnership with WJXT

Tuesday January 8, 2013

 Station set to air five home games during 2013 season

JACKSONVILLE – The 2012 South Division Champion Jacksonville Sharks announced Tuesday that the team has forged a major broadcast partnership with WJXT Channel 4. The team and station have reached a four-year agreement that will make WJXT the local broadcast home of Sharks football through the 2016 season.

“The Sharks organization is extremely excited to partner with WJXT,” Sharks managing partner Jeff Bouchy said. “Local broadcasts are essential to our corporate partners and our fans, and we look forward to making our brand part of the Channel 4 family.”

“I’m thrilled to welcome the Sharks to Channel 4,” WJXT Vice President/General Manager Bob Ellis said. “Football is king in Jacksonville and the Sharks are a championship football team. They’re also a first-class organization providing tremendous entertainment value to their fans. We can’t wait to make their team a part of our team.”

WJXT will kick off its coverage of Sharks football with a slate of five home games to be broadcast live throughout the greater Jacksonville area, beginning with the Sharks’ home opener on Friday, April 12 against the New Orleans VooDoo. The full home broadcast schedule is as follows:

Friday, April 12 vs. New Orleans VooDoo (8:00 p.m.)
Saturday, May 4 vs. Arizona Rattlers (7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, June 1 vs. Pittsburgh Power (7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, June 22 vs. Cleveland Gladiators (7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, July 27 vs. Tampa Bay Storm (7:00 p.m.)

In addition to live game broadcasts, WJXT will also produce “Sharks Football Weekly,” a magazine-style show that will air at 11:15 p.m. on Friday nights. Each week, fans will get an inside look at the state of the Sharks with news, analysis, and in-depth interviews with Head Coach Les Moss and other Sharks players and coaches.

In the coming weeks, the Sharks and WJXT will announce the play-by-play commentator, in-game analyst and sideline reporter who will make up the broadcast team during the organizations’ first year of partnership.

WJXT will also air a selection of Sharks road games during the 2013 season. The exact schedule of road broadcasts will be announced at a later date.

About the Jacksonville Sharks

The Jacksonville Sharks are members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The ArenaBowl XXIV and back-to-back-to-back South Division Champions are presented by Sea Best Seafood and play all home games on Sea Best Field at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Season Tickets for the 2013 season are now available, two tickets as low as $185. To reserve your season tickets or for more information, please call (904) 621-0700. Follow the Sharks on facebook at facebook.com/jaxsharks and on Twitter @jaxsharks, as well as the Attack Dance Team at facebook.com/sharkattackdance and Chum at facebook.com/chumsharks.