What is the difference between audio streaming, downloads and podcasts?

There are a number of ways in which you can listen to BBC radio over the internet. Nearly all programmes are available as streams in BBC iPlayer. In addition, some programmes can be downloaded in the form of podcasts through the BBC podcast directory.

Streaming

All of the BBC's radio stations (including the BBC World Service) are available to listen to live on the internet via streaming on BBC iPlayer. You can also listen again to streams of nearly all of our radio programmes up to seven days after broadcast.

With streaming, BBC iPlayer delivers a radio programme to you over the internet at the same time as you are listening. No copy is kept on your computer. Instead, the audio file is simply transferred continuously bit-by-bit, while you are listening, so you always need to be connected to the internet when listening with the BBC iPlayer.

To stream radio, you'll need to have Flash installed. If you don't have Flash installed, please visit the BBC Webwise website.

Downloads

Downloading means that a full copy of the programme is stored on your computer.

At the moment, it is not possible to download radio programmes in BBC iPlayer in the same way you can download television programmes.

Podcasts

In addition, the BBC also offers podcasts outside BBC iPlayer.

A growing selection of radio programmes and highlights are available to download and keep forever outside of BBC iPlayer, as part of our podcast service.

Podcasts are a series of downloadable programmes, which you can keep forever after downloading. New episodes of a podcast are made available regularly, generally on a weekly or daily basis. The great thing about a podcast is that you can subscribe to it, using special software (such as iTunes, Juice or Doppler), so that every episode is downloaded to your computer automatically.

The BBC's podcasts are all provided in the MP3 audio format, with which the vast majority of media player software is compatible. MP3 files can also be transferred to most portable players so you can listen wherever and whenever you feel like it.

You don't have to subscribe to a podcast if you don't want to; you can always download individual episodes.

You can now subscribe to and download a wide range of BBC podcasts from across all of our national, regional and local stations. To find out more about podcasting and see which programmes can be downloaded, visit the BBC Podcast site.

Remember, if your favourite BBC radio programme is not available to download as a podcast, you should still be able to hear it up to seven days after broadcast via streaming using BBC iPlayer.

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