Internet Radio

Let's face it, it's the next big thing. A radio listener hears an ad for a must-have and places an order immediately using the same medium on which he heard the ad. This is possible with Internet radio, the latest technological innovation in radio broadcasting since the business began in the early 1920s.

Internet radio has been around since the late 1990s. Traditional radio broadcasters have used the Internet to simulcast their programming but it is undergoing a revolution that will expand its reach from your desktop computer to access broadcasts anywhere, anytime.

Programming is set to grow from traditional broadcasters to individuals, all with voice on the air. The 'air' is now the web.

Until now, the only way to obtain radio broadcasts over the Internet was through your PC. That will soon change, as wireless connectivity will feed Internet broadcasts to next-generation radios, PDAs and cell phones.

Traditional radio station broadcasts are limited by the power of the station’s transmitter and the available broadcast spectrum space. Internet radio has no geographic limitations, so a broadcaster in the UK can be heard anywhere in the world, as long as they can connect to the web.

In comparison to traditional radio, Internet radio is not limited to audio. An Internet radio broadcast can be accompanied by photos or graphics, text and links, as well as interactivity, such as message boards and chat rooms. This advancement allows a listener to do more than listen.

Internet radio programming offers a wide range of broadcast genres, particularly in music. Broadcast radio is increasingly controlled by smaller numbers of media groups. Internet radio offers the opportunity to expand the types of available programming. The cost of getting “on the air” is less for an Internet broadcaster and Internet radio can appeal to “micro-communities” of listeners focused on special music or interests.

The writer uses an Internet radio in a Wi-fi hotspot, but notes:

• a radio connection to the web will suffer the same drop-outs and lock-ups we all know from our PCs
• sound quality is very variable, from mobile phone quality to the best audiophile delivery
• some popular stations are not well served and drop out at high traffic times
• stations are regulated by local law but it is hard in enforce. Content may offend
• music stations often have issues with rights owners. Watch your favourite leave the air over non-payments to copyright bodies