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.

Clearly, the history of internet audio delivery is filled with many more obstacles. Generally, you have to buy a computer that can cost somewhere between $500 and $2000. Then, you have to make sure you get speakers because they are not standard in all cases. To access the internet, you need a dial-up account (if you’re a masochist) or high speed internet provider (unless you’re freeloading off someone else’s WiFi – but that is a very small amount of users). That could cost between $20 to $60/month. And that only opens the door, because you still have to track down and find audio to which you want to listen.

Compared to internet audio, radio has a monstrous advantage in ease of use. Everybody knows how to operate a radio by the age of 5. There’s a volume knob, and then a few buttons you can push to hear different stations. That’s simple.

Take a look at the listen live page for Z100 in New York. If you have the proper player installed, the proper codecs installed, enough bandwidth, and no firewall blocking your access, you should be okay - but because computers find inventive ways to break things, there are 14 paragraphs discussing problems. And this is not a knock on Z100 – they handle it better than most. Many stations don’t even offer that kind of help.