Ever more interesting Radio times

After only five weeks, this is already quite the year for Radio on the national stage, with Chris Evans moving lock, stock and barrel to Virgin Radio (part of Wireless Group, owners of U105), and Downtown parent company Bauer being due to launch Scala Radio, a classical music service on national DAB in March, with key signing Simon Mayo. BBC Radio 2 has accordingly revised its daytime line up, and RAJAR* will tell the story on all of that next year.

In the latest research just released, U105 enjoyed the largest gain in reach, from 197,000 in its FM area this time last year to 221,000, with DAB listeners now taking the audience to a total of 250,000.

Q Radio saw a decrease in both the Belfast and original Q Network areas, from 133,000 to 131,000 and 153,000 to 145,000 respectively.

Downtown Country posted a gain in reach - 119,000 to 143,000 while the heritage Downtown service decreased from 266,000 to 243,000. Cool FM moved back from 503,000 to 486,000 year-on-year.

BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle had a drop in reach - 536,000 to 524,000.

As always, each station’s figures relate to its own Total Survey Area.

*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos - MORI

(Updated 8.2.19 with comparative amendments)

The national picture from Matt Deegan:
www.mattdeegan.com

Paul Easton with the London perspective:
http://www.pauleaston.co.uk