Local station launches are a bit like buses - none for a time, and then several come along.
In April this year, Downtown Country went on air, followed in June by Belfast 89FM (with which I'm involved, and being a Community licensee it is not a RAJAR* subscriber) and then in August there was the rebranding of Citybeat as part of the Q Network.
The latest audience research findings for Northern Ireland just released give some early inklings of the new radio landscape, with all comparisons year on year.
It's 25 years since Downtown 'split' to create Cool FM, and as then, the game plan will be to increase listenership taken overall. The new figures indicate that this is being achieved; Downtown Country debuts with an audience of 85,000, and the Newtownards-based broadcaster has 10,000 more listeners in total to its portfolio of stations.
Individually, Cool FM posts increases in reach and hours (by 3,000 to 375,000 and 8%), while Downtown in decreasing (29,000 to 240,000 and 25%) is most likely seeing some reassignment through Downtown Country.
U105 received an early 10th birthday present, with reach and hours both up (by 18,000 to 211,000 and 15%), while Citybeat has a decreased reach of 8,000 to 119,000 with hours up by 7%, and the 6 original Q stations were up in reach and hours (36,000 to 150,000 and 11%).
BBC Radio Ulster also enjoyed a healthy boost to its hours (up 11%), but reach dipped by 10,000 to 526,000.
With no more buses for the time being, it's now up to listeners to sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy the ride...
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI. The figures for each station relate to its own Total Survey Area.
More RAJAR analysis:
The national picture from Matt Deegan: http://www.mattdeegan.com
Paul Easton with the London perspective: http://www.pauleaston.blogspot.co.uk
In April this year, Downtown Country went on air, followed in June by Belfast 89FM (with which I'm involved, and being a Community licensee it is not a RAJAR* subscriber) and then in August there was the rebranding of Citybeat as part of the Q Network.
The latest audience research findings for Northern Ireland just released give some early inklings of the new radio landscape, with all comparisons year on year.
It's 25 years since Downtown 'split' to create Cool FM, and as then, the game plan will be to increase listenership taken overall. The new figures indicate that this is being achieved; Downtown Country debuts with an audience of 85,000, and the Newtownards-based broadcaster has 10,000 more listeners in total to its portfolio of stations.
Individually, Cool FM posts increases in reach and hours (by 3,000 to 375,000 and 8%), while Downtown in decreasing (29,000 to 240,000 and 25%) is most likely seeing some reassignment through Downtown Country.
U105 received an early 10th birthday present, with reach and hours both up (by 18,000 to 211,000 and 15%), while Citybeat has a decreased reach of 8,000 to 119,000 with hours up by 7%, and the 6 original Q stations were up in reach and hours (36,000 to 150,000 and 11%).
BBC Radio Ulster also enjoyed a healthy boost to its hours (up 11%), but reach dipped by 10,000 to 526,000.
With no more buses for the time being, it's now up to listeners to sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy the ride...
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI. The figures for each station relate to its own Total Survey Area.
More RAJAR analysis:
The national picture from Matt Deegan: http://www.mattdeegan.com
Paul Easton with the London perspective: http://www.pauleaston.blogspot.co.uk
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