This summer saw U105 join the ranks of DAB digital radio broadcasters, having previously just been on Freeview on a province-wide basis. The latest RAJAR* for Northern Ireland stations confirms that this party is getting started.
The reach for Cool FM in its DAB area was first reported in the research released in May, and this figure has held, so the year-on-year increase will be largely those now listening on digital (387,000 up to 474,000; hours up by 4%). Downtown improves reach from 248,000 to 274,000, with hours up by 5%. Downtown Country is of course solely digital, and is up from 100,000 to 126,000, though hours dip by 21%.
Interestingly, that puts a DAB-only station ahead of an FM outlet, as Q Belfast (formerly Citybeat) sits on 125,000 (up from 121,000; down in hours by 13%). The original Q stations enjoyed a significant boost (122,000 to 159,000; hours up by 14%).
The aforementioned U105 will start to report on its DAB area in due course, aiming for this to bring increased reach and hours, but for now the station has decreased from 195,000 to 187,000, with hours virtually static.
BBC Radio Ulster had a rise in reach (520,000 to 544,000), but fell in hours by 4%.
Given that listeners selecting DAB can choose from over 50 stations, local gains are well earned and deserved.
As ever, each station's figures are quoted within its own Total Survey Area and all comparisons are year-on-year.
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI.
More RAJAR analysis:
The national picture from Matt Deegan:
www.mattdeegan.com
Paul Easton with the London perspective:
www.pauleastonblog.co.uk
The reach for Cool FM in its DAB area was first reported in the research released in May, and this figure has held, so the year-on-year increase will be largely those now listening on digital (387,000 up to 474,000; hours up by 4%). Downtown improves reach from 248,000 to 274,000, with hours up by 5%. Downtown Country is of course solely digital, and is up from 100,000 to 126,000, though hours dip by 21%.
Interestingly, that puts a DAB-only station ahead of an FM outlet, as Q Belfast (formerly Citybeat) sits on 125,000 (up from 121,000; down in hours by 13%). The original Q stations enjoyed a significant boost (122,000 to 159,000; hours up by 14%).
The aforementioned U105 will start to report on its DAB area in due course, aiming for this to bring increased reach and hours, but for now the station has decreased from 195,000 to 187,000, with hours virtually static.
BBC Radio Ulster had a rise in reach (520,000 to 544,000), but fell in hours by 4%.
Given that listeners selecting DAB can choose from over 50 stations, local gains are well earned and deserved.
As ever, each station's figures are quoted within its own Total Survey Area and all comparisons are year-on-year.
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI.
More RAJAR analysis:
The national picture from Matt Deegan:
www.mattdeegan.com
Paul Easton with the London perspective:
www.pauleastonblog.co.uk
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