WJXR... ?

[oldrover]

Just discovered this station whilst trolling the 'Net. Do I have this right... they contract with local businesses for gift certificates in exchange for on-air promotion, often on-site via remote. They sell the GC's over the air and keep the proceeds. That about right?

What's it like to listen to? Judging from their website, they're certainly generating revenue. Googled them and found lots of Jax chat rooms discussing recent purchases and announcers. Sounds interesting.

 

[Brother Bear]

What can you say about the Bargain Channel? It's like the old "Tradio" show we all either hosted or ran the board for back in the day, but without all the charm. Greg Perich has owned WJXR for nearly 20 years, and it once played music with jocks like Lee Shannon and Jim Forest. Steve Sutton got his radio legs in Jacksonville there before stepping up to WAPE.
You are correct on the premise of the station. AE's go to various businesses and trade radio time for certificates, and the certificates are sold to buyers who have member numbers and VIP priviledges and everything. Since it's not an officially sanctioned auction per se, buyers can make "offers" on everything from restaurant coupons to portable generators. The hosts bring items to the table and interested listeners "offer" whatever amount until it's announced as sold.
As it is live, delay-free radio, youngsters often like to call and test the board op's dexterity by "offering" profanity and bathroom humor, but there are a large group that swear by the deals they get. It's a very backwards, folksy version of Home Shopping Radio. Need an 8 carat yellow amethyst ring? The Bargain Channel is the place.
It's radio's version of low tide in the salt flats.