A method of achieving synchronous playback of media content over the internet, such as digital video and audio, when the media content is stored on a host that does not have synchronous broadcasting software installed. Users select media sources that are accessible from one or more content servers and create a broadcast playlist. A database maintains a virtual-time record of the broadcast. A server receives a client request for the broadcast, retrieves the virtual-time record from the database, and delivers it to the client. The client then accesses the remotely-stored media source and plays it in a media player, synchronously with all other clients receiving the broadcast.