Lycos Starts Internet-based Radio Service to Attract Music Fans
Waltham, Massachusetts, April 26 (Bloomberg) -- Lycos Inc., the No. 3 Internet search service that's being acquired by USA Networks Inc., is introducing an Internet-based radio service to attract music fans to its Web site.
The service starts on Monday with five music ''channels,'' such as jazz or alternative music, that Lycos expects to expand to between 25 to 50 channels in six months, said Brian Kalinowski, manager of multimedia products.
Lycos said it created the service to attract music fans to its Web site, as one out of four people on the Internet use the global computer network to listen to music. The technology wasn't created in response to rival Yahoo! Inc.'s pending acquisition of Broadcast.com Inc., a provider of online music and video events, said Kalinowski. ''We can cut into one or all of the (channels) with live updates or place plugs about products with a DJ,'' said Kalinowski. ''So if the Kosovo war ends, we can cut into the (channels) and say, 'The war has ended.' ''
The radio uses RealNetworks Inc.'s software to play the music on personal computers, Lycos said. The service also includes videos and images to match the music.
Waltham, Massachusetts-based Lycos is offering the Web-based radio through closely held Westwind Media.com, a Denver-based broadcast syndicator of content for the Internet and radio.
The service is available at radio.lycos.com.
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