Local stations go live online

By PAMELA DAVIS

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 26, 2000

When you can't come to the radio, now the radio can come to you.

Like others across the country, some of the Tampa Bay area's radio stations are now streaming their regular on-air broadcasts onto the Web.

Cox Radio's six local stations have been streaming audio for about six months on broadcast.com.

"It's a plus for everybody involved," says Jay O'Connor, vice president and general manager of Cox-owned WHPT-FM 102.5, WBBY-FM 107.3 and WSUN-FM 97.1.

Web brings wider range of radio As choices over the airwaves dwindle, the Internet is a haven for those seeking something else. The Best Online Radio Sites Check out these sites for some cool online audio programs. Local stations go live online When you can't come to the radio, now the radio can come to you. How to listen to radio on the Web Many online radio or audio streams can be played through Real Audio's RealPlayer software, Apple's QuickTime or Microsoft's Windows Media Player, all of which are available for free download from each company's Web site. (Sites often present links to the program that works best with their material).

"It's a plus for advertisers because there are more listeners. It's a plus for listeners because they can tune in to stations they might not otherwise be able to, and it's a plus for us because of the constant battles with other radio stations," O'Connor says.

Not all radio station owners, however, are willing to broadcast on the Web. CBS/Infinity, which owns six stations in the Tampa Bay area, doesn't allow its stations to stream audio. The company hopes to find a way to generate revenue from streaming before putting its stations online.

Here are some of the stations in the Tampa Bay area that offer audio streaming on the Web:

FM stations

WMNF-FM 88.5 http://wmnf.org/

WBVM-FM 90.5 http://www.spiritfm905.com/home.htm

WFLZ-FM 93.3 http://www.933flz.com

WWRM-FM 94.9 http://www.warm949.com/

WSSR-FM 95.7 http://www.star957.com/

WXTB-FM 97.9 http://www.98rock.com/

WMTX-FM 100.7 http://www.mixmeansvariety.com

WFJO-FM 101.5 http://www.broadcast.com/radio/jammin_oldies/wfjo/

WHPT-FM 102.5 http://www.broadcast.com/radio/classic_rock/whpt

WTBT-FM 103.5 http://www.thunder1035.com/main.html

WBBY-FM 107.3 http://www.thebay1073.com/

AM stations

WDAE-AM 620 http://www.620wdae.com/

WZTM-AM 820 http://www.broadcast.com/radio/spanish/wztm/

WFLA-AM 970 http://970wfla.com/index.html

WHNZ-AM 1250 http://www.whnz.com/main.html

WTAN-AM 1340 http://www.tantalk1340.com

WMMI-AM 1380 http://disney.go.com/radiodisney/

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.