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Listen Now to a live audio stream of ABC Classic FM.
A 'podcast' is an automated way of delivering a radio program to your portable MP3 player. Currently, Classic FM provides Margaret Throsby's Morning Interview and selected Australian Music recordings and interviews in MP3 format. You can subscribe to our podcast service and have the podcasts delivered direct to your computer.
> Subscribe to the available podcasts
Please note
Classic FM is only able to provide a limited range of features for download in MP3 format due to rights limitations on the music. This means that we cannot make any program with commercially released music available in this way. Note that MP3 'podcasts' from other ABC networks generally have all music removed, or only include a few seconds of each piece. Any complete musical items are specially licensed for download, which can incur extra costs for the ABC.
There are many software utilities that will play MP3 files (WinAmp, iTunes, Real Player, Windows Media Player etc.). Usually you determine which software plays them by setting a default on your computer.
You can listen to the following programs whenever it suits you. Visit the individual program pages for links to audio-on-demand.
> Afternoons with Christopher Lawrence
> Classic Breakfast with Emma Ayres
> Classic Drive with Julia Lester
> For The God Who Sings with Stephen Watkins
> Jazztrack with Mal Stanley
> Jazz Up Late with Gerry Koster
> Just Classics with Damien Beaumont
> Keys to Music with Graham Abbott
> The Morning Interview with Margaret Throsby
> New Music Up Late with Julian Day
> Up Late with Simon Healy
> Weekend Breakfast with Colin Fox
Listen to streaming audio of new compositions by contemporary artists and composers.
> Australian Music
In August 2009, ABC Classic FM began broadcasting on digital radio. ABC Jazz - a new online station (along with ABC Dig ansd ABC Country) were created and our two Jazz programs - Jazz Up Late and Jazztrack moved to ABC Jazz.
However, listeners can still hear these Jazz programs on conventional analogue radio - on ABC Classic FM - whilst if you listen on a digital radio or online you will hear alternative programs (New Music Up Late - Friday Edition and Classic Collection).
To listen to the Jazz programs online or on a digital radio please go to ABC Jazz.
ABC Classic FM still offers Jazz Up Late and Jazztrack as Audio-On-Demand.
Windows Media Player vers.9 or later is required for all ABC streaming audio.
Most PCs already have the Windows Media Player installed. Macintosh computers will readily play MP3 ('podcast') files, but do not come bundled with a player suitable for streaming audio.
Visit the ABC Streaming Media Players page for advice and links to find the software you need.
Please note that if you decide to install the Real Player, you do not need to pay for it. Be sure to locate the link to the free player, not the trial version.
Listening to 'streaming' audio via dial-up connection can be precarious. The most common problem is playback stalling until more data arrives ('buffering').
Relevant factors are;
Note that for our 'audio-on-demand' (programs 'stored' and available at any time), the Windows Media format requires a 56k modem or better. If you have Windows Media Player 9 or better, the 'live' Windows Media stream will automatically adapt to your connection speed.
Even the best technology fails. If you find that there is a persistent 'apology' message instead of a particular program, please be asssured that we will repair the audio when possible, if at all possible.
Remember that with 'audio-on-demand' you are not storing a large file on your computer. Data arrives in real time, so you must remain connected to the internet to listen to ABC Classic FM programs.
If you are concerned about how much data you are downloading while you listen, 60 minutes of Windows Media audio requests about 11MB of data with a 56k modem (32kbps). Broadband Realplayer users can expect to download 23MB per hour (64kbps).
If you are listening from your workplace and you are no longer able to play ABC programs (but it works at home), please consult your IT specialists before raising the issue with the ABC.
You can launch ABC Classic FM's live audio stream directly with these links: Real Player | Windows Media | mp3 broadband
If you have recently installed Personal Firewall software, you should first specify that abc.net.au is a 'trusted site' before you try changing your player settings. (NB: the end-of-program/apology message will still play regardless).
For audio streaming some Apple Macintosh users may have trouble with Windows Media Player and should try Real Player which has up-to-date releases for Mac OSX (in particular, when the player is embedded in a web page). Safari and Firefox are the latest, most compliant, browsers for Macintosh.
To use Windows Media Player on a Macintosh (including video streaming) users should try the plug-in called Flip4Mac to play Windows Media files through Quicktime.
For interviews, features, previews, latest news, reviews and ABC Classic FM listings. Visit the ABC Shop for more »
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