The main difference between broadcasts and webcasts is how the content is viewed and transmitted. A broadcast is primarily viewed on a television set, while a webcast is normally viewed on a computer. Broadcasts require the transmission of audio and video signals from a station to a receiver, such as a television set. Webcasts are transmitted via Internet streaming. Webcasts are also referred to as broadcasts for the web. Regardless of the platform, both broadcasts and webcasts can incorporate either pre-recorded or live media.
Television broadcasts must follow FCC regulations, which govern aspects of television content and viewing. Webcasting is a much newer type of media and there are not yet rigorous standards surrounding the content and delivery.
Because the means of transmitting webcasts are far more accessible to the general public, a greater number of content providers are able to broadcast their work online. This gives viewers the ability to view specialized content and gives content providers the ability to bypass traditional gatekeepers and reach mass audiences. However, user-generated content is not normally subject to the same journalistic standards as television, and it can create misinformation and confusion among viewers.
The quality of streaming Internet video differs from the quality of broadcast video. The quality of a television depends on reception, while the quality of a webcast depends on encoding, decoding and bandwidth. Internet content is encoded into data packets, which are decoded by media players. The speed of this process relies on bandwidth, which is a measurement of how much data can be sent and received in a given period of time. Site traffic and the number of people online in a particular radius affect web content quality. Since web-viewing behavior is unpredictable, the site transmitting a webcast may not have enough bandwidth to accommodate high volume.
Electing to watch a show through broadcast or webcast depends on a number of factors including availability, budget and viewing preferences. Some shows are only available on one medium, so that is how the program must be viewed. Subscription fees are required to watch premium channels on cable television, satellite and increasingly the Internet. To watch webcasts, you must be in an area with high-speed Internet availability and be willing to pay the Internet service costs. Shows on television follow a certain time schedule and viewers generally must watch or record a shows based on a schedule set by the broadcast station. Webcasts are usually viewable at any time and you set your own viewing schedule.