Transmitting streaming media data in overlapping bursts can reduce data loss when transmitting over radio frequencies to a roving digital receiver. A digital transmitter transmits streaming media information in bursts, where each burst of data preferably contains several seconds of streaming media information. The streaming media information to be transmitted is grouped into transmission bursts, or packets, each transmission burst containing several units of media content, or content units. A content unit is an amount of content that is stored and played by a digital receiver. Each burst contains a certain amount of information, such as a certain number of content units, which are the same as some of those sent in the previous burst. Each burst also contains new content units, i.e. content units that have not previously been transmitted. Transmitting overlapping bursts of information allows a roving receiver to temporarily lose contact with the transmitter, and yet minimizes the loss of data from the receiver's perspective. The overlapping nature of the packets makes it more likely that a roving receiver will receive all, or most, of the content units needed to continue playing the media presentation without "dead space" or static.