“Beatz 96.3” debuted as expected at 4pm today.
The new station is launching with a sponsored commercial-free weekend and a social media based contest for Nicki Minaj concert tickets.
Update 6/3:“ Beatz 96.3” W242CI Jupiter/West Palm Beach will launch on Friday, June 5 at 4:00pm. Positioned as “Hip-Hop For The Palm Beaches”, the station will fill the hole created by sister “X102.3” WMBX shifting to Urban AC in 2013.
Meanwhile at WMBX, Don Chris “Dj Wrekk-1” Williams has been named PD/Afternoon Host. He recently worked as Music Director/Middayer at Radio-One Urban “Hot 96.3” WHHH Indianapolis where he worked under now Palm Beach Broadcasting OM Leo Baldwin.
FRIDAY at 4PM! Get ready to turn on your radio to hear the HOTTEST HIP HOP! #Beatz963 #HipHop #PalmBeach #WestPalm pic.twitter.com/uewR8jK4lq
— Party 96.3 (@Party963) June 3, 2015
Original Report 5/17: Digity Media’s Palm Beach Broadcasting is preparing to launch Rhythmic CHR “Beatz 96.3” in West Palm Beach.
Palm Beach Broadcasting acquired 96.3 W242CI Jupiter earlier this year for $70,000. The translator CP will operate with 201 watts at 128 meters rebroadcasting 102.3 WMBX-HD2 (Coverage Map). 96.3 will cover the northern portions of the West Palm Beach market that do not get city-grade coverage of Miami market signals.
The West Palm Beach market has been lacking a Rhythmic CHR or Hip-Hop oriented station since “X102.3” WMBX Jensen Beach began a gradual shift from Urban to Urban AC following the sale of former sister “B106.3” WUUB to Good Karma Broadcasting in February 2013.
Digity registered Beatz963.com, Beetz963.com, and Beats963.com earlier this month.
kilamanjero
I’m still trying to understand the purpose of the shift of WMBX from full-service, dayparted urban format to exclusively an Urban AC. It serves the community no try purpose to segment the music selection in a market with a decent sized black population such as the West Palm Beach market. Honestly, Palm Beach Broadcasting should have kept WMBX as is.