Video:What is Internet Radio?

Transcript:What is Internet Radio?

I’m Pelpina, here for About.com. I’m sure you have favorite songs or a certain radio station you like to listen to in the car. Well, you can actually listen to the radio anywhere -- today I’ll explain what internet radio is, and how you can get access to radio stations you’re interested in.

Internet Radio is Widely Accessible

Regular radio uses electromagnetic waves to transmit sound - but can only go as far as a broadcast tower can transmit. Internet radio, on the other hand, is usually accessible from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection.

You could listen to a Dutch radio station in Australia, for example. So no such thing as white noise.

Internet radio is always available, as long as you have an internet connection. The audio is streamed online from a server at one end, and reassembled by a computer’s software player on the listener’s end.

Various Formats for Internet Radio

Internet radio comes in all types and forms, just like regular radio. It can be music, talk-radio, comedies, variety shows - anything really. Most radio stations stream audio online for free, and websites such as radiotower.com can help you find an audio stream to your tastes: with a certain type of music, in a certain language, or in a specific region.

So, plenty to explore online. We have much more excellent articles on internet radio at compute.about.com. Thanks for watching!