The 16th of March 1976 was a day like no other.
 
For fans of Radio, waiting for more choice on the dial, it was a long time coming - the offshore stations had largely been silenced, and the BBC given pretty much a free run with their Radio 1 service which attempted to fill the void, but fell short in a number of areas, such as ‘needletime’ limiting the amount of records that could be played each day.
 
For the average listener, they would have been aware through the press and advertising on UTV that a new station was about to launch, and the anticipation had been growing as Tuesday March the 16th approached.
 
My blog last December takes up the story, so rather than repeat it here, please scroll down for a refresher!
 
In that I mentioned a forthcoming book, written by Ivan Martin and myself. 
 
Titled ‘It Brought a Smile to Your Ear’ (based on an early sticker slogan), the first section details the timeline from the start of local radio in Belfast - this was commercially funded and opened as far back as 1924 - through the decades up to the 70s when Downtown was established, and onwards to the present day. A colour section of archive photographs then leads to a selection of ‘One to Ones’ where Ivan talks to a range of people that were involved with the station to hear of their memories and reflections looking back.
 
The book will be available online from Blackstaff Press, and initially No Alibis on Botanic Avenue in Belfast will have this in stock.
 
As for Downtown itself, it was a privilege to be invited to produce and present a two hour documentary called ‘Downtown Radio 50 Years On’, which goes out at 7pm tonight, with a repeat on Sunday the 22nd at 10pm, and then it will be on the Rayo app for a month. Many well-loved names from the past will feature, recalling Day One and the heady years that followed, including the arrival of Cool FM and Downtown Country intended to better serve different audiences, along with audio delights from the archive.
 
The station is also in the middle of a ‘nostalgia fest’, and rightly so, as there’s much to recall for longtime listeners (and to learn about for newer ones!).
 
Happy reading and listening then, and most of all, a Very Happy Birthday Downtown!

Next month, Downtown Radio celebrates its 50th birthday, so the latest RAJAR* figures cover the last quarter of 2025 and reflect a media landscape unimaginable when the station launched as the province’s first independent radio service all those years ago.
 
Its 1990 offspring Cool FM adds 2,000 listeners year-on-year keeping it at number one for reach with 473,000 weekly listeners. Total hours are 3,673,000 up from 3,397,000, and share is 12.4 (was 10.8).
 
BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle is in pole position for hours, with 4,104,000 (a significant drop from 5,609,000 over 12 months), with reach at 380,000 (was 454,000) and a share of 13.9 (was 17.9).
 
All other local commercial stations saw declines in hours. For Q Radio, a reach of 293,000 (was 335,000) with hours down to 2,000,000 from 2,423,000 and share 6.8 from 7.7.
 
Downtown attracted 265,000 listeners (were 309,000), with 2,710,000 hours (were 3,240,000) and a share of 9.2 (was 10.3); while its sibling born in 2015 Downtown Country had 106,000 listeners (were 135,000), with hours at 1,074,000 (were 1,301,000) and a share of 3.6 (was 4.1).
 
In Greater Belfast U105 slipped in reach (204,000 to 182,000) with hours of 1,749,000 (were 2,279,000) and a share of 9.4 (was 12.1). Better news from the DAB-only area; reach went from 23,000 to 37,000; hours from 112,000 to 193,000; and share from 0.9 to 1.7.
 
Next to the hybrid stations, Greatest Hits Radio NI reached 59,000 listeners compared to 69,000 a year ago, and Hits Radio NI had 34,000 listeners (was 25,000).
 
The share of total listening hours to all radio captured by the local services was 53%.
 
Back to Downtown’s birthday, and a shameless plug! Ivan Martin and I have written a book on the station’s history titled ‘It brought a smile to your ear’ for publication next month. Details of how to order a copy will be released on social media. Congratulations to all who worked at the Kiltonga Radio Centre over the past 50 years and best wishes for the imminent move to Belfast's City Quays!
 
 
 
Each station is quoted within its own Total Survey Area.
 
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI
 

The 1st of December, 1975 was a Monday, the start of the normal working week, and for me, the beginning of a 50-year career in Radio.
 
Mind you, it had been a longstanding interest before that, so with a QUB Engineering degree under my arm the opportunity to work in the medium and be part of a new station was one eagerly grasped.  At that stage, Downtown Radio was little more than a muddy building site, but over the following months this gave way to a custom-designed studio block linked to an office building into which arrived more engineering staff, the presenters, journalists, and sales executives, all aiming to be broadcasting ‘on or before St. Patrick’s Day, 1976’.
 
And so, with a day to spare, the IBA test transmissions – bringing stereo to NI listeners for the first time – ceased and Downtown burst into life at 6am on the 16th of March, with John Paul opening with a song called ‘Peace’ by Peter, followed by ‘Concrete and Clay’ by Randy Edelman. In the following programmes we heard from Hendi, Big T (Trevor Campbell), Brian McSharry, Candy Devine and Bill Smyth. Audience reaction was immediate, and overwhelmingly positive. In a news hungry province, bulletins every hour on the hour were essential and appreciated, as was the sense of everyday life reflected in a wide variety of programmes with local humour to the fore.
 
By the first audience survey that summer, some 70% of the population were tuning in each week, and throughout the 70s as the station settled and developed a similar figure was maintained.  In 1977 I had moved from Engineering to an assistant role in Programme management, and in 1979 became Head of Programming.
 
In the 80s Downtown expanded to cover the North West and the West of the Province, and in 1990 Cool FM was launched as the station of ‘the times’ in Greater Belfast, while Downtown remained the station of ‘the place’ on the other frequencies. That decade saw awards both national and international won for a range of programmes, including several dramas.
 
The year 2000 was the right point for a new challenge, that came in the shape of Station Director at Belfast City Beat, which had turned a corner but had yet to achieve its potential.  Through working with the team there, by 2004 it had record listening figures and become the NTL Station of the Year, with 5 Sony Gold Awards and one silver for Stephen Nolan’s early evening phone in show.
 
That year Ofcom announced a new FM licence for Belfast, and this was my cue to join UTV to lead their application, which succeeded against 10 other Radio groups. U105 went on air in November 2005, to serve listeners aged 45 and over. After four years at UTV, when U105 had exceeded the listening figures projected, it was time to move on and undertake various projects, including a review of Community Radio for BBC NI.
 
I also returned to my old haunt of Sunday night radio with ‘Take it Easy’ back for a further series on Downtown running for 10 years from 2010; and to bring in the New Year, which I did a record-making 40 times on Radio. 
 
In 2012 with more Community Radio licensing on the horizon, an opportunity was sought to serve the ‘Baby Boomers’ – a phrase used in the application, that was approved and became Belfast 89 in June 2015 with which I was involved for three years before turning attention to the possibilities for DAB Digital Radio.
 
Right now it’s full speed ahead on a book project, jointly with Ivan Martin, to tie in with Downtown’s 50th anniversary in March of next year. As well as telling a fascinating story, it’s a great chance to catch up with radio colleagues again from over the years.
 
Radio has evolved greatly – from a handful of stations to over a hundred available locally on air, with many more available online, a number of which are little more than streaming services. At its most effective, radio remains a one to one medium, relating to and connecting with the listener in real time.  That much hasn’t changed in 50 years!
 
 
 
 
 
 

​The last RAJAR* to be published this year covers the period up to the 14th of September, and it seems that the summer has not been so sunny for local stations’ listening figures with losses for all in reach year-on-year.
 
Cool FM remains top for reach, attracting 456,000 weekly listeners each week (was 503,000). Total hours are now 3,888,000 (were 4,302,000) and share is 13.6 (was 13.7).
 
BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle just squeezes ahead to take the lead position for total hours, but these have decreased markedly from 5,430,000 to 3,992,000, with share down from 17.3 to 14.0. Reach also went down from 462,000 to 358,000.
 
Q Radio saw a significant growth in hours (from 1,856,000 to 2,387,000) and share (5.9 to 8.4), but reach dropped from 344,000 to 302,000. 
 
Downtown declined in reach and hours (289,000 to 262,000 listeners and 2,670,000 to 2,443,000 hours) while increasing in share from 8.5 to 8.6.  Downtown Country was down in reach (119,000 to 115,000), but up in both hours (1,011,000 to 1,147,000) and share (3.2 to 4.0).
 
U105 lost reach in Greater Belfast (200,000 to 187,000) with hours and share being 1,950,000 hours (were 2,288,000) and 11.0 (was 11.8). Reach in the DAB-only area increased from 28,000 to 30,000, as did share from 1.2 to 1.7.
 
The share of total listening hours for the local stations above combined is 56%; this time last year it also stood at 56%, so the falling tide is in Radio overall and is lowering all ships.
 
Turning lastly to the hybrid stations, Greatest Hits Radio NI reached 58,000 listeners compared to 72,000 a year ago, and Hits Radio NI had 25,000 listeners (was 11,000).
 
 
 
Each station is quoted within its own Total Survey Area.
 
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI
 

It’s a Red Letter day for followers of media facts, as not only has RAJAR* issued the latest listening figures for the period up to the 22nd of June, but also Ofcom has published its annual Media Nations report, full of fascinating details on what NI people listen to and watch, which can be seen here. 
 
The leader in reach remains Cool FM which attracts 469,000 listeners each week. At the same time last year that was 538,000, with total hours now being 4,164,000 (were 5,134,000) and share at 14.2 (was 16.2).
 
BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle commands top position for total hours which increased from 4,879,000 to 4,905,000, with share up from 15.4 to 16.7. Reach however decreased from 443,000 to 416,000.
 
Q Radio also increased hours (from 2,425,000 to 2,679,000) and share (7.7 to 9.1), but reach dropped from 378,000 to 318,000. 
 
There were mixed fortunes for Downtown; the main station didn't maintain the boost from its last set of figures and declined in reach, hours and share (312,000 to 280,000 listeners, 3,250,000 to 2,626,000 hours and 10.3 to 8.9 respectively), but Downtown Country was up in reach (124,000 to 138,000), hours (957,000 to 1,352,000) and share (3.0 to 4.6).
 
In the Greater Belfast coverage area, U105 lost reach (183,000 from 189,000) with hours and share being 1,899,000 hours (were 1,919,000) and 10.9 (was 9.6). In the DAB-only area, there was a lower reach (24,000 from 30,000) but increased hours and share (118,000 up to 180,000; and 1.0 up to 1.5).
 
Year-on-year the share of total listening hours for the local stations above combined is 61%, up from 59%.  Ofcom notes that this is nearly twice the UK average, which puts it into a pleasing perspective.
 
Finally the hybrid stations, Greatest Hits Radio NI reached 54,000 listeners compared to 56,000 at this time last year, and Hits Radio NI had 25,000 listeners.
 
 
 
Each station is quoted within its own Total Survey Area.
 
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI
 

As most of the stations that have launched in recent years have been national services on DAB, it is heartening to see that according to the latest RAJAR* just released the local sector is the one which has been gaining in popularity. Year-on-year the percentage of listening hours achieved by NI stations went from 59% to 61%.
 
Cool FM continues to lead the way for reach, with 457,000 weekly listeners tuning in each week. A year ago that was 527,000, and total hours are now 3,524,000 compared to 4,429,000 with share at 11.7 from 14.6.
 
BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle attracts the highest number of hours (5,405,000 from 4,923,000) and share (18.0 from 16.2), but across the year reach has slipped to 439,000 from 462,000.
 
Q Radio sees a drop in listeners - 338,000 from 370,000, but hours and share are on the rise; 2,619,000 hours (were 2,484,000) and 8.7 share (was 8.2). 
 
Downtown saw progress by all measures; with reach being 316,000 from 298,000, hours 3,444,000 from 3,076,000, and share 11.5 from 10.2. Downtown Country fared likewise with an increased reach of 155,000 (was 122,000), hours at 1,460,000 (were 1,074,000) and share of 4.9 (was 3.5).
 
U105 in Greater Belfast had a slight dip in reach (188,000 from 190,000) but hours and share went up with 1,843,000 hours (were 1,786,000) and a 10.2 share (was 9.9). In its DAB-only area, there were a further 23,000 listeners (previously 32,000), 125,000 hours (were 155,000) and a 1.0 share (was 1.3).
 
Concluding with the hybrid stations, Greatest Hits Radio NI reached 52,000 listeners, its lowest figure to date; a year ago this was 70,000, and Hits Radio NI had 28,000 listeners.
 
 
Each station is quoted within its own Total Survey Area.
 
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI

The provisions of the Westminster Media Act became effective early last month, and across the water the big Radio groups lost no time in moving to network their programmes, limiting local content to news, information and advertising. 
 
Here, fully local remains dominant, attracting 58% of all radio listening hours, according to the latest RAJAR* research which has just been published, covering the last quarter of 2024. 
 
In this the week of its 35th birthday, Cool FM holds the top spot in reach, with 471,000 listeners tuning in each week. The same period last year that figure was 538,000, with total hours now 3,397,000 compared to 4,155,000 and share at 10.8 from 14.3.
 
BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle leads on hours (5,609,000 from 4,927,000) and on share (17.9 from 17.0), but their reach has declined to 454,000 from 506,000 year on year. 
 
Q Radio now has 335,000 listeners (was 351,000), with 2,423,000 hours (were 2,068,000) and a 7.7 share (was 7.1). 
 
At Downtown reach has jumped from 259,000 to 309,000, and hours were up (3,240,000 from 2,259,000) as was share (10.3 from 7.8). Sister station Downtown Country, which will celebrate 10 years on air in April, receives an early birthday present of increased reach of 135,000 (was 105,000), hours at 1,301,000 (were 897,000) and share of 4.1 (was 3.1).
 
U105 was the choice of 204,000 weekly listeners (were 220,000) in its FM broadcast area, with 2,279,000 hours (were 1,866,000) and a 12.1 share (was 10.9), while in the station’s DAB-only zone there were 23,000 listeners (were 31,000) with 112,000 hours (were 211,000) and a 0.9 share (was 1.8).
 
Turning lastly to the hybrid stations, Greatest Hits Radio NI reached 69,000 listeners (compared with 82,000 a year ago) and Hits Radio NI 25,000 listeners.
 
 
Each station is quoted within its own Total Survey Area.
 
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI

In the week that the Media Act 2024 became law, allowing UK radio station operators to provide less local programming, the latest RAJAR* figures for the period up to September 15th continue to confirm that listeners here expect and appreciate just the opposite. 
 
Overall, Radio in NI is in a good place, with an increase year-on-year in the total time spent listening to all stations, now at over 31 million hours, of which the local broadcasters achieve almost 18 million, representing a 56% share of hours.
 
Cool FM in attracting 503,000 listeners a week maintains its top spot in reach, but 12 months ago this was 527,000, with hours similarly decreasing to 4,302,000 from 4,590,000, and share to 13.7 from 15.6.
 
This results in BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle moving ahead to lead on hours (5,430,000 from 4,733,000) and on share (17.3 from 16.1), but their audience number is down on a year ago, to 462,000 from 499,000.
 
Q Radio reaches 344,000 listeners (was 362,000), with 1,856,000 hours (were 2,173,000) and a 5.9 share (was 7.4). 
 
At Downtown reach is virtually unchanged (289,000 from 288,000), hours were up (2,670,000 from 2,253,000) as was share (8.5 from 7.6). There was a similar upward trend at Downtown Country with reach at 119,000 (was 91,000), hours at 1,011,000 (were 699,000) and share of 3.2 (was 2.4).
 
In its original FM area U105 attracts 200,000 weekly listeners (were 249,000), 2,288,000 hours (were 2,381,000) and an 11.8 share (was 13.2), while in the station's DAB-only area posting an additional 28,000 listeners (were 31,000) with 147,000 hours (were 180,000) and a 1.2 share (was 1.6).
 
Finally, Greatest Hits Radio NI reached 72,000 listeners (compared with 106,000 as a national service a year ago) and Hits Radio NI debuted with 11,000 listeners.
 
 
Each station is quoted within its own Total Survey Area.
 
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI

 
The latest RAJAR* figures, covering the period up to June 23rd, allow the progress of Greatest Hits Radio NI to be assessed, and one suspects it doesn’t fit the intended narrative.
 
When this was purely a national service, 106,000 listeners in Northern Ireland tuned in each week; with the addition of local news, traffic and advertising in subsequent quarters this declined to 82,000 then 70,000, and is now sitting at 56,000.  
 
That contrasts with the strength of stations which are fully local.
 
Cool FM once again leads the way, and now does so by all measures - in reach, hours and share, these being 538,000 (was 490,000 a year ago); 5,134,000 hours (were 3,987,000) and 16.2 (was 14.1).
 
BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle is next with 443,000 (was 439,000); 4,879,000 hours (were 4,590,000) and 15.4 (was 16.2).
 
Q Radio sees increases with 378,000 listeners (were 284,000); 2,425,000 hours (were 1,766,000) and a share of 7.7 (was 6.2).
 
Downtown improved in reach (312,000 from 292,000), hours (3,250,000 from 2,426,000) and share (10.3 from 8.6). Its Country sibling however headed in the opposite direction with 124,000 listeners (were 153,000), 957,000 hours (were 1,095,000) and a share of 3.0 (was 3.9).
 
U105 attracted 189,000 listeners in its original FM area (were 227,000), 1,919,000 hours (were 1,937,000) and a 9.6 share (was 11.4). In the DAB-only zone there were 30,000 listeners (previously 32,000), 118,000 hours (were 194,000) and a 1.0 share (was 1.7).
 
The preceding services taken together account for 59% of all radio listening hours, which is two percentage points higher than at the same time last year; and interestingly Ofcom’s just published Media Nations report notes that this figure is almost twice the UK average for local radio, confirming that here we like a lot of Local!

 
Each station is quoted within its own Total Survey Area.
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI

Following the autumn arrival of Greatest Hits Radio NI, Bauer has last month launched an NI version of Hits Radio. These two new hybrid offerings will take some time to be reflected in RAJAR*, so for now the latest figures just released relate to fully local services.

Lead position is held by Cool FM, with 527,000 listeners tuned in for 4,429,000 hours giving a share of 14.6. This time last year there were 489,000 listeners, 3,446,000 hours and a 12.3 share.

BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle follows with an audience of 462,000 (up by 6,000), 4,923,000 hours (were 5,079,000), and a 16.2 share (was 18.1).

Q Radio comes next, with 370,000 listeners (up from 216,000), 2,484,000 hours (were 1,220,000), and an 8.2 share (was 4.3).

Downtown saw an increase of 9,000 listeners to 298,000, with hours moving likewise from 2,470,000 to 3,076,000, and share from 8.8 to 10.2.

The station’s Country sibling registered a fall from 193,000 to 122,000 listeners, 1,289,000 to 1,074,000 hours and a 4.6 to 3.5 share.

U105 lost 31,000 listeners in Greater Belfast (now 190,000) but increased overall hours from 1,520,000 to 1,786,000 and share from 9.1 to 9.9. In its newer DAB area, the audience increased by 4,000 to 32,000, while hours dipped from 156,000 to 155,000 with share remaining at 1.3.

Lastly, looking at the combined performance of the aforementioned stations, they attract 59% of all listening hours.

As ever, each station is quoted within its own Total Survey Area.

*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI