Internet Broadcasting

Internet broadcasting is a term used where media file distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. An internet broadcast may either be distributed live or on demand. Essentially, internet broadcasting is "broadcasting" over the Internet.

The largest "internet broadcasters" include existing radio and TV stations, who "webcast" their output as both live internet broadcasts but also as On Demand Internet Broadcasts, as well as a multitude of Internet only "radio stations". The term internet broadcasting usually refers to non-interactive linear streams or events. Rights and licensing bodies offer specific "internet broadcasting licenses" to those wishing to carry out Internet broadcasting using copyrighted material.

Internet broadcasting is also used extensively in the commercial sector for investor relations presentations (such as Annual General Meetings), in E-learning (to transmit seminars), and for other related communications activities. However, internet broadcasting does not bear much, if any, relationship to web conferencing tools, which are designed for many-to-many interaction and to replicate a meeting.

The ability to internet broadcast using cheap/accessible technology has allowed independent media to flourish. There are many notable independent shows that broadcast regularly online. Often produced by average citizens in their homes they cover many interests and topics. Internet broadcasts relating to computers, technology, and news are particularly popular and many new shows are added regularly.