WMNF teams with Bull Radio to extend USF's reach

College radio stations are seldom heard off campus, but the student-run Bulls Radio at the University of South Florida is expanding its reach into the Tampa area thanks to a partnership with community radio station WMNF, 88.5 FM.

Beginning Saturday, Bull Radio will be carried over WMNF's HD2 signal. Listeners will need a HD radio receiver to get it.

The kickoff date corresponds with the Bulls Radio broadcast of the first USF football game of the season against Wofford. The station also plays rock and alternative music programmed by the students.

WMNF officials say this is the first time the entire Tampa area will have access to a college rock station.
Bulls Radio also broadcasts other USF sports.

Bulls Radio has been only broadcast on AM in the vicinity of the USF Tampa campus.

Bulls Radio station manager Michael Rañon says the student-programmers will gain the experience of working for a full-power FM station in a major radio market.

WMNF station manager Jim Bennett says the joint venture will introduce students to the programs on
WMNF and "offer younger people the chance to be involved with media in a way that appeals to them and their peers."

WMNF program director Randy Wynne hopes that Bulls Radio programmers will some day "have their own shows on our main HD1 signal, 88.5 FM"

HD radio is relatively new to the Tampa area, which has about 20 unique HD channels in the market.

Unlike satellite radio, HD is free to anyone who has an HD receiver. Most programming content also is available on stations' Web sites.

Bill Brown, WMNF's engineer, says that CD-quality HD radio is a technology that is rapidly emerging and "gives students the opportunity to listen to Bulls Radio at the beach."

The St. Petersburg, Lakeland, and Sarasota campuses of USF do not have student radio stations. "Bulls Radio on WMNF HD2 will connect the four USF campuses together," Brown said.

There also will be a special Bulls Radio HD2 broadcast and open house at 1 p.m. Friday at the WMNF studios, 1210 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa.

WMNF is an independent community radio stationed supported by donations and volunteers. To learn more about WMNF and to listen go to www.wmnf.org