The term broadcast has been widely known for many years, with most people being familiar with its meaning due to services such as British Broadcasting Service, which is the largest news broadcasting service in the world. We have all experienced broadcasts of programs on radio and television, as well as live streaming of various sports matches. In contrast, the term podcast is relatively new and refers to the distribution of files, primarily audio, through an RSS feed on the internet. However, many people confuse these two terms and use them interchangeably, which is not accurate. This article will clarify the differences between podcasts and broadcasts by discussing their features.
What is a Podcast?
Although the term podcast may bring to mind an iPod, they are not the same thing, though you can certainly listen to a podcast on your iPod. In fact, the popularity of iPods has contributed to the renaming of webcasts as podcasts. If you break down the word, you’ll find that podcast is made up of “pod” from iPod and “cast” from broadcast. A podcast refers to the distribution of an audio file, such as an MP3, through an RSS feed on a website. Anyone (or members, depending on the case) can download this audio file from the website and transfer it to another MP3 device, such as an iPod, to listen to it whenever they like. If you have a subscription to a site, you can listen to a podcast at your convenience.
What is a Broadcast?
Broadcast refers to the use of mass media to distribute audio and video files. It began in 1881 with telephone broadcasting, where people subscribed to this form of broadcasting to listen to operas and other musical events on their phones. Radio broadcasting started soon after, with radio waves transmitted and received through a radio receiver. Television followed, with recorded and live events being broadcasted through television in all parts of the country and now the world.
Key Takeaways
- A podcast is the distribution of an audio file through an RSS feed on a website, while a broadcast refers to the use of mass media to distribute audio and video files.
- Podcasting takes place through the internet only, while broadcasting is done through various mediums such as radio, television, and cable television.
- Most radio stations today distribute podcasts in addition to regular broadcasting, and you can listen to a podcast at any time after it has been distributed, whereas you can only listen to an MP3 file when it is being broadcast on the radio.
