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[ Friday, Oct. 1, 1999 ]
Local radio makes the leap to the Web
By SAMANTH IYER
Collegian Staff Writer
Web technologies are pumping new life into radio as two local stations have made the leap to the Internet.
WPSU-FM (91.5) plays classical music from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on its Web site (www.wpsu.psu.edu). Using audio streaming techniques, the music can be heard using Real Audio with only a slight time lag.
The site, which started at the beginning of the summer, offers some unique services such as a log of pieces played on the air. So the next time a listener hears a composition from the middle and longs to find out what it is, he or she should take heart. Merely knowing the time of broadcast can identify the piece.
"Due to licensing laws, we are not yet in a position to archive tracks, though we hope do so in the future," said Steve Shipman, operations director at WPSU. "We might also be able to expand into more diverse programming on a regular basis."
PHOTO: Collegian File Photo
A student DJ works the controls this summer at WKPS FM (90.7). The station along with WPSU FM (91.5) has recently begun broadcasting via the Internet.
Now the site provides non-classical music such as jazz, blues and folk music at selected times.
Student-run WKPS-FM (90.7) is another station that has looked to the virtual world to spread radio's appeal.
WKPS is a part of a larger structure called Webradio (www.webradio.com), which offers radio broadcasts from different college radio stations around the country. WKPS started its online service in the spring when Webradio ap-proached it. The site offers a broader spectrum of programming, and WKPS itself airs its broadcasts with a 10-second time lag.
Among other features on Webradio, the site offers links to music magazines and an e-mail request option.
"Judging by the number of e-mail requests that we have got, I would say that the site is slowly catching on," said Richard Jackson, WKPS promotions director. "Our goal right now is to put out as clear a signal as possible," he added.
Since its initiation by commercial radio stations a few years back, online radio has grown in popularity.
Numerous universities around the nation have established an online version of their local radio broadcasts such as Dickinson College and Shippensburg University who are also featured on the Webradio site.
"I think it's great," said Brian Burns (senior-telecommunications). "WKPS is not a very powerful station and it is good that people outside the listening range are able to listen to their broadcasts online."
