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This is the second column in my New Year’s look at the future of internet audio and opportunity and threat it presents to broadcast radio. As I explained last week, I’m breaking it down in three parts: output, delivery method and content. The parts intertwine somewhat, but are worth looking at individually. I’ll also be using the term internet “audio” instead of internet “radio” because it comes in so many forms, from streaming audio to podcasts to short embedded audio segments, like on NPR.org

Last week, I explained how if internet output, or the audio that leaves the speakers, has not risen to the quality of radio yet, it is certainly close and will get there soon. With increasing bandwidth and better codecs, internet audio quality will soon be approaching CD quality in many situations.

This week, we take a look at delivery method, which is the most interesting of the three. I will assume that everyone who visits this site knows at least the basics of how radio works. Sound is transmitted wirelessly to receivers, which output the sound to speakers or headphones. The receivers are everywhere and cheap. If this is news to you, its probably best you read no further.

This is the second column in my New Year’s look at the future of internet audio and opportunity and threat it presents to broadcast radio. As I explained last week, I’m breaking it down in three parts: output, delivery method and content. The parts intertwine somewhat, but are worth looking at individually. I’ll also be using the term internet “audio” instead of internet “radio” because it comes in so many forms, from streaming audio to podcasts to short embedded audio segments, like on NPR.org

Last week, I explained how if internet output, or the audio that leaves the speakers, has not risen to the quality of radio yet, it is certainly close and will get there soon. With increasing bandwidth and better codecs, internet audio quality will soon be approaching CD quality in many situations.

This week, we take a look at delivery method, which is the most interesting of the three. I will assume that everyone who visits this site knows at least the basics of how radio works. Sound is transmitted wirelessly to receivers, which output the sound to speakers or headphones. The receivers are everywhere and cheap. If this is news to you, its probably best you read no further.