The Jacksonville Jaguars and WJXT-TV have agreed to a three-year contract for the team's broadcast rights, making Channel 4 the new "Official Television Station of the Jacksonville Jaguars."

WJXT will broadcast all locally produced Jaguars programming, including three Jaguars preseason games, "The Tom Coughlin Show," the Jaguars Pregame Show and nine Jaguars specials throughout the year.

That will make Channel 4 the home for all official Jaguars television programming for the next three years, as the CBS network also has the broadcast rights to AFC and Jaguars regular-season games. The NFL 2001 schedule will be released soon, and nearly every game will be broadcast on CBS.

"We're excited about this new partnership with Channel 4, and we look forward to bringing our fans closer to the team through our combined programming efforts," said Jaguars chairman and chief executive officer Wayne Weaver. "With most of our games already on their air through their affiliation with CBS, this move makes Channel 4 the broadcast home for all official Jaguars programming. Whether it's our preseason games, regular-season games, the Tom Coughlin Show, Monday night, or any other Jaguars program, Jaguars fans can get it all on one station. This new partnership will benefit our fans."

WJXT vice president and general manager Sherry Burns said, "We're thrilled to partner with the Jaguars. Channel 4 is the winning news team in Jacksonville, so it's a natural to welcome home the winning NFL team. Our focus will be bringing the team to the fans, and the fans to the team. With this partnership, we merge two fan bases: our loyal viewers and their rabid fans - an unbeatable combination."