When WINZ-940 switches to an all-sports format by mid-April, South Florida will have more sports radio stations than pro teams -- six if you include West Palm Beach, as well as Miami and Fort Lauderdale; and five if you include the stations that can be heard throughout Broward County and at least part of Miami-Dade.

Can that many stations survive in a reeling economy? And why would a few of these stations even try?

''Of course it's too many,'' said Howard Davis, station manager of 790 The Ticket. ``In my mind, there are two sports stations in this market -- us and WQAM. I don't consider syndicated [programs] local radio.''

The three stations that Davis excluded are WINZ (which has not announced a date of its format switch), WFTL-640 and WFTL-1400, which are (or will be) dominated by low-cost national programming and cannot realistically expect to approach the ratings of WQAM and The Ticket. With rumors swirling about lineup changes, here is the latest from the five stations, all on the AM dial:

• WAXY-790: Jorge Sedano (The Ticket's noon-to-3 p.m. host) remains a strong candidate to replace ousted Sid Rosenberg on the morning show. But others have applied, and a decision is at least a week away, station officials say. The Ticket would love to lure Michael Irvin but knows that is unrealistic because he lives in the Dallas area and hosts a show there.

The station also has spoken with former Fox Sports Radio host Krystal Fernandez, a potential sidekick for Sedano. Davis said the plan remains to have local programming throughout the day, except overnights after 10 p.m. (The Ticket has a marketing partnership with The Miami Herald.)

• WINZ-940: The station is not commenting about its impending format switch, but the lineup likely will include Dan Patrick at 10 a.m., Jim Rome at noon and possibly ESPN's Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic in the morning. Evenings would include Heat games and Fox programming.

WINZ has explored doing a local afternoon talk show and has spoken with Rosenberg and 640's Jeff DeForrest. The other option would be carrying Fox's national show with Chris Myers at

3 p.m.

''I'm mystified why anyone would come in with another sports station, but I understand it from a cost standpoint,'' 790's Davis said, explaining that WINZ's expenses will be limited because its owner, Clear Channel, ``owns Premier Radio, which is Fox Sports Radio.''

• WQAM-560: Bell said no lineup changes are planned. But like The Ticket, 560 is feeling the effects of the recession. Beasley Corp. employees were given a five percent pay cut earlier this year, and evening host Damon Amendolara is working without a contract.

• WFTL-640: The loss of Rome, Patrick and the other Fox programming to WINZ has left 640 in a bind. But Steve Lapa, who runs James Crystal Radio's South Florida stations, said he will stick with a sports format. (FYI: 640 has run only national programming this week -- and 1400 is off the air temporarily -- because the stations are moving to a new studio.)

WFTL picked up Sporting News Radio and will add additional local programming. Though WINZ has spoken to DeForrest, he said he is happy at 640 and expects to continue his 6-10 a.m. show, which features Troy Stradford on Mondays and Lesley Visser on Fridays. Larry Milian, who was dropped by The Ticket in December, is doing weekend shows at 640.

The station, based in southern Palm Beach County, will air all regular-season Yankees games (except three in June against the Marlins) and FSU games. ''I don't think the Marlins are thrilled, but there are a lot of Yankees fans here,'' Lapa said.

• WFTL-1400: Will continue to carry ESPN Radio.

WQAM and 790 split most of the local sports audience, with 640 and 1400 (and soon 940) battling for whatever is left. Among men 25 to 54 in the last ratings book, WQAM was 14th among 33 stations in the market, 790 was 16th, and three WFTL stations (including news/talk 850) were a combined 31st.

Yes, the market is over-saturated with sports radio. But at least listeners have more options than those in most other markets.