The Tampa Bay Lightning and Cox Media Group have announced a multiyear extension of their broadcast partnership, solidifying talk “102.5 The Bone” WHPT Sarasota/Bradenton as the team’s official flagship station.
Dave Mishkin will continue on play-by-play and Lightning founder and Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito will be back as color analyst. Greg Linnelli will also return as host for the pre-game, intermission, and post-game shows, joined by other station talent throughout the season.
As part of the renewed partnership, new programming will be introduced, including a weekly Lightning-centric show, an expanded “Last Call Postgame Show,” and daily Lightning updates across all Cox Media Group stations.
WHPT, which boasts Florida’s most powerful FM signal at 100,000 watts, reaches audiences across Tampa Bay, Sarasota, Fort Myers, and Lakeland. Fans can also stream broadcasts through the “102.5 The Bone” app and other digital platforms.
Known for its distinctive talk format, WHPT features live, local content throughout the day. The station’s top-rated lineup includes morning show host Mike Calta, “The J.P. Show,” “The Senning Show,” and “Drew Garabo LIVE!,” providing the perfect lead-in to Lightning game broadcasts.