WJBT

WJBT (or 93.3 The Beat) is a commercial Urban Contemporary radio station in Jacksonville, Florida broadcasting on 93.3 MHz. The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, Inc. and is licensed to Callahan, Florida. The station's studios are located on Central Parkway in Jacksonville's Southside section, and the transmitter is in the Arlington section.

WJBT
CityCallahan, Florida
Broadcast areaJacksonville, Florida
Branding93.3 The Beat
SloganJacksonville's Hip Hop and R&B Flava
Frequency93.3 MHz (HD Radio)
First air date1975 (at 92.7)
Format
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT302 meters (991 ft)
ClassC1
Facility ID51975
Call sign meaningWe're Jacksonville's BeaT
Former call signsWLKC (1983-1990)
WAIA (1990-1995)
WPLA (1995-2005)
WROO (2005-2008)
OwneriHeartMedia, Inc.
(Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, Inc.)
Sister stationsWQIK-FM, W247CF, WFXJ, WKSL, W295AZ, WSOL-FM, WWJK
WebcastListen Live
Websitehttps://wjbt.iheart.com/

History of the 93.3 frequency

In 1995 WAIA switched from Triple-A to modern rock, becoming "Planet Radio 93.3".[1]

Station history

WJBT has been in its current format since 1992 (when it was at 92.7), playing Hip Hop and R&B music. It is home to the nationally syndicated Doug Banks Morning Show (but has been replaced with Steve Harvey after its move to 93.3). Its only other competitor is its own sister station, Urban AC WSOL-FM. WJBT was the second Urban radio station to adopt "The Beat" branding after Los Angeles' KKBT.

When it was at 92.7, it served the Jacksonville area, but it did not have enough power to serve the northernmost and westernmost portions of the metro because its frequency was licensed to Green Cove Springs, Florida. However, it had no effect on the Arbitron ratings as it is still among the Top 5 (sometimes 10) most listened to stations in the city.

On November 2, 2007, Clear Channel spun off the 92.7 frequency to a private company (which moved the signal to the Palm Coast area as WBHQ)[2] and on the evening of December 25 of that same year, moved the station and its format to the more powerful 93.3 signal (formerly the home of Country outlet WROO).[3] The reason for this was to comply with FCC ownership rules, since WJBT was in a waiver status in which Clear Channel was allowed to own six FMs and one AM in the market. But because of Clear Channel Communications being sold to a private investment group, WJBT's current frequency had to be divested. After Christmas Day 2007, 92.7 and 93.3 were simulcasting. However, on January 11, 2008, a new urban gospel station debuted on the 92.7 frequency named "Hallelujah FM", which is a moniker currently used for many Clear Channel-owned gospel stations nationwide. Also, the call letters were switched, with 92.7 becoming WROO and 93.3 becoming WJBT.[4]

With the move to a more powerful signal, WJBT also received an upgrade in power as well, going from 50 kW to 100 kW, thus covering most of Jacksonville and Northeastern Florida.

On-air personalities

Mixers
  • DJ Q45
  • DJ Dr. Doom

Station management
  • Program Director G-Wiz

References
  1. "Vox Jox". Billboard. 107 (30): 114. July 29, 1995.
  2. From The Florida Times-Union (November 2, 2007)
  3. From Radioinsight (December 6, 2007)

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