A significant birthday is an apt time for radio stations to take stock of what has been achieved and to consider the direction of travel.
In the latest RAJAR* audience research, U105, which in recent months turned 10, reached its highest weekly audience to date of 237,000 (up 48,000). This nudges the station 3,000 listeners ahead of the previous peak 5 years ago, and comes as the takeover of UTV's television interests by ITV leaves U105 in a new operating environment.
Next month Downtown celebrates 40 years on air; in the late 70s, 7 out of 10 adults in Greater Belfast - around half a million - tuned in each week. Over the years through extending the coverage area provincewide and the launch of additional services, Cool FM in 1990 and Downtown Country last April, the broadcaster today has more audience than in those early days (612,000, up 3,000). Within the 3-station family, Cool FM is up 30,000 to 391,000, Downtown itself decreases by 90,000 to 217,000, and Downtown Country has 89,000.
BBC Radio Ulster had a year of celebration for its 40th in 2015, and the latest weekly figure is 538,000, down 31,000.
From heritage stations to a re-brand; Citybeat became Q Radio last summer, and is up 2,000 to 133,000, while the 6 original Q services are up 5,000 to 126,000.
All comparisons are year on year, and each station's figure relates to its own Total Survey Area.
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI
For the national picture, go to www.mattdeegan.com
and for London analysis:
www.pauleastonblog.co.uk
In the latest RAJAR* audience research, U105, which in recent months turned 10, reached its highest weekly audience to date of 237,000 (up 48,000). This nudges the station 3,000 listeners ahead of the previous peak 5 years ago, and comes as the takeover of UTV's television interests by ITV leaves U105 in a new operating environment.
Next month Downtown celebrates 40 years on air; in the late 70s, 7 out of 10 adults in Greater Belfast - around half a million - tuned in each week. Over the years through extending the coverage area provincewide and the launch of additional services, Cool FM in 1990 and Downtown Country last April, the broadcaster today has more audience than in those early days (612,000, up 3,000). Within the 3-station family, Cool FM is up 30,000 to 391,000, Downtown itself decreases by 90,000 to 217,000, and Downtown Country has 89,000.
BBC Radio Ulster had a year of celebration for its 40th in 2015, and the latest weekly figure is 538,000, down 31,000.
From heritage stations to a re-brand; Citybeat became Q Radio last summer, and is up 2,000 to 133,000, while the 6 original Q services are up 5,000 to 126,000.
All comparisons are year on year, and each station's figure relates to its own Total Survey Area.
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI
For the national picture, go to www.mattdeegan.com
and for London analysis:
www.pauleastonblog.co.uk
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