In the week that industry body Radiocentre revealed that the medium was the fastest growing in advertising expenditure terms during the first quarter of 2018, the latest RAJAR* also continued to tell a good story for NI local stations, which together attract 57% of all listening hours.

Across the sector there are ups and downs on the quarter and on the year, which is the more telling comparison.

BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle saw an increase in weekly reach from 544,000 to 566,000 with hours up by 3% overall.

Cool FM led the Bauer-owned stations here with 473,000 (down 1,000) and a 7% decrease in hours; Downtown attracted 244,000 (down 30,000) in reach but increased hours by 2%; and Downtown Country declined in reach and hours (126,000 to 116,000; 12%).

The Q Network had mixed fortunes with Q Belfast up by 5,000 to 130,000 in reach and up 11% in hours, with the original 6 Q stations down 29,000 to the same 130,000 figure and hours down by 8%.

U105 had an interesting book in that it is the first time their new DAB service which began last July has been measured. Early days of course, and attracting 21,000 additional listeners beyond the original FM area, though not sufficient to compensate for the 34,000 drop in this to 153,000, with hours decreasing by 16%.

As ever, each station’s figures are quoted within its own Total Survey Area.


*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.pauleaston.co.uk

It’s often said that Radio comes into its own at times of disruption, such as during weather-related events. With that in mind, the latest RAJAR* research period ended on April 1 and included listening when ‘The beast from the east’ brought us snow.

BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle did best with an increase in weekly reach from 518,000 to 580,000 and total hours up by 1% overall.

Cool FM and Downtown Country were up from 473,000 to 482,000 and 103,000 to 120,000 respectively, with hours increasing by 11% and 45%. Downtown itself lost 10,000 in reach (now 258,000), but gained by 9% in hours.

The Q Network fared less well, moving from 135,000 to 113,000 for Q Belfast (with hours down by 15%), and from 154,000 to 118,000 for the original 6 stations (hours down by 4%).

Likewise, U105, now broadcasting from its new home at City Quays, dropped in reach from 193,000 to 172,000 and in hours, by 22%. This does not yet reflect the expanded coverage through going on DAB last summer.

As always, 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.pauleaston.co.uk

In a previous blog, I noted that NI station audiences had settled into distinct layers around the hundreds of thousands of listeners.

Cool FM now celebrates crossing the 500,000 mark, receiving this good news from RAJAR* on its 28th birthday. The latest figure of 503,000 is helped by the measured area being the larger DAB footprint, and compares with 397,000 last year for the FM signal.

This puts the station within shouting distance of BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle, which has a weekly reach of 536,000 (up from 521,000).

Downtown and its Country sibling also see increases (260,000 to 266,000 and 103,000 to 119,000), as do Q Belfast (129,000 to 133,000) and the original Q stations (143,000 to 153,000); while U105 decreases from 210,000 to 197,000.

Listening hours also tell a story - NI local radio now attracts a 58% share of all hours as opposed to 56% at the same time last year.

Individually, the stations with increasing total hours are Cool FM (by 31%), Q Belfast (27%), Downtown Country (20%) and the original Q stations (18%). Those decreasing are Downtown (by 5%), BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle (15%) and U105 (32%).

Please note that 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.pauleaston.co.uk

There should be contentment all round at Northern Ireland's local stations following the release of their latest RAJAR* figures. Every service sees an increase in reach - the number of people tuning in each week - and the total listening hours reported for local radio are up by 5% on the same period last year.

As always, the devil is in the detail. Cool FM, Downtown Country and Q Belfast (formerly Citybeat) enjoyed double digit increases in hours - 18%, 11% and 16% respectively, with Cool now drawing its audience from the larger DAB area compared to the FM coverage 12 months ago.

The original Q stations, U105 and BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle each had a 1% increase in hours, while Downtown dipped by 8%.

Back to the good news for broadcasters on reach; Downtown is up from 245,000 to 288,000; Cool from 400,000 to 495,000; Downtown Country 99,000 to 142,000; Q Belfast 125,000 to 140,000; the original Q stations 125,000 to 166,000; U105 from 182,000 to 198,000 and BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle 504,000 to 572,000.

Attracting these new listeners is a positive step, the next no doubt for radio practitioners being to entice their whole audience to tune in for longer.


*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI.
Each station's figures are quoted within its own Total Survey Area, and all comparisons are year-on-year.

More RAJAR analysis:

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

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

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

In an era when the conventional wisdom is that young people are tuning into less radio due to the number of media alternatives whilst older folks loyally listen on, the latest RAJAR* for NI stations turns this on its head.

Compared to the same time last year, Cool FM is now measured against its DAB province-wide coverage, and has added 85,000 listeners, taking the station's reach to 473,000, with total hours up by 19%. Interestingly, across the water, BBC Radio 1 explains that its strategy is multi-platform, including YouTube, and in the past 5 years the national station's on air audience has decreased by some 20%. Food for thought.

Downtown increased reach (243,000 to 268,000) and hours by 3%, while its Country sibling boosted reach (84,000 to 103,000) though hours dipped by 20%.

The big picture is a good one for the Newtownards-based broadcaster, with the combined reach of Downtown/Downtown Country/Cool FM up by 72,000 to 703,000, well clear of nearest rival BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle on 518,000. That reach figure is down from 546,000, with hours reducing by 2%.

This trend among older listeners is mirrored at U105, which was licensed to serve the 45+ age group. Reach is now 193,000 (down from 229,000) and hours have decreased by 9%.

The Q Network had a positive set of results, with the Belfast reach up from 127,000 to 135,000, and hours increasing by 4%; while the original 6 services attracted 154,000 listeners (up from 121,000) with hours up by 18%.

As always, 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 latest RAJAR arrives during a sad week as Northern Ireland's Radio community mourns the passing of Eddie West.

Eddie was at Downtown in its opening week for the first 'Intro' series, and his rich distinctive voice and skilful music presentation soon lead to him becoming part of the full time team. Over the years he also worked in Dublin stations, returned to Downtown and Cool becoming Programme Controller, and then launched an Internet service, Fever 40. Eddie loved Radio, and will be greatly missed by colleagues and listeners alike.

In an era of increasing choice, with 52 stations now available on DAB and all but 6 of these being national, it is telling that for local radio broadcasters year-on-year total listening hours have increased by 8% overall. As additional options aim to capture the audience's time, this is a good result.

RAJAR* for Quarter 4, 2016 reveals that BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle has increased its hours by 9%, with the stations' in-depth coverage of all the political upheaval the likely driver. The weekly reach is down by 17,000 to 521,000.

The local stations in the Bauer Network enjoyed an increase in both reach (to 654,000) and hours by 9%, with individual performances as follows: Downtown - reach up 43,000 to 260,000; Downtown Country - reach up 14,000 to 103,000; and Cool FM - reach up 6,000 to 397,000. Across these stations, hours were respectively up 34%, down 8% and down 1%.

Q Radio outside Belfast increased reach by 17,000 to 143,000 and hours by 23%, while in the city lost 3,000 listeners (now 129,000) with hours increasing by 4%.

U105 saw reach decrease by 27,000 to 210,000 along with hours by 1%.

As ever, the figures quoted for each station relate to 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
​

It's well over a year since the NI local radio landscape changed, with new stations such as Downtown Country launching and Citybeat being renamed and programmed as part of the Q Network, and the latest RAJAR* reflects some settling.

With audience figures, increasing either the reach - the number of listeners tuning in each week - or the total hours, is a measure of success.

Year-on-year, Downtown, Downtown Country and Cool FM have managed to achieve both. Together they reach 639,000 people (up from 604,000), and individually, Downtown has 245,000 (up 5,000), Downtown Country 99,000 (up 14,000) and Cool FM 400,000 (up 25,000), with the stations increasing their hours by 30%, 11% and 6% respectively.

Q Radio in Belfast likewise added reach (125,000, up 6,000) and hours (up 24%), but the 6 original Q stations lost reach (150,000, down 25,000) while boosting their hours by 27%.

BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle dropped by 22,000 to 504,000, but hours were up by 7%.

U105, now a stand-alone service, saw a fall in both reach (211,000 to 182,000) and hours by 5%.

Overall, it's a solid performance by our local broadcasters, and a Brexit-free zone so far as one can tell...


*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI.
The figures quoted are for each station in its own Total Survey Area.

More RAJAR analysis:

The national picture from Matt Deegan: www.mattdeegan.com
Paul Easton with the London perspective: www.pauleastonblog.co.uk

As 2015 heralded several station launches and rebrands in Northern Ireland, it is now after a year that the effects are showing through in the latest RAJAR* audience figures just released.

Downtown Country offered a clear new listening choice, and sees its audience grow to 100,000 this time. That takes the performance of the entire Downtown/Cool FM Newtownards-based operation up to 632,000 listeners, with hours up 18% year on year. Downtown itself dropped 49,000 over that period to 248,000, while Cool FM increased by 33,000 to 387,000.

At the Q Network, the 6 original stations outside Belfast lost 32,000 listeners (now 122,000), while Citybeat, which was rebranded as Q last summer, was down by 12,000 across the year to 121,000. Increased hours on the quarter in all areas will doubtless be some consolation.

U105 and BBC Radio Ulster enjoyed increases in both reach (6,000 to 195,000 and 16,000 to 520,000 listeners respectively), and hours, compared to 12 months ago.

The figures quoted above are for each station in its own Total Survey Area.


*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

That Latin inscription appears in Dallas, Texas of all places, at the legendary jingle company JAM, and translates as 'It takes time to make things'. So too with building radio audiences, and each RAJAR* provides a snapshot of progress for new, rebranded and heritage stations alike in Northern Ireland.

In the wake of last week's White Paper on the future of the BBC, Radio Ulster will be pleased with a year-on-year increase in both reach (up 22,000 to 546,000) and hours listened. Quarterly figures are also up by both measures.

Downtown Country celebrated its first birthday last month, and the total reach of the now 3-station network has increased by 30,000 to 631,000 against the results for Downtown/Cool FM a year ago. Downtown itself is down 56,000 to 243,000 (though up 26,000 on the quarter) and Cool is up 39,000 to 388,000, with each declining in hours, and Downtown Country has an impressive 84,000 listeners after 12 months.

Q Radio in Belfast saw a drop in both reach (145,000 to 127,000) and hours compared to its previous performance as Citybeat, and the original 6-station Q Network dipped 8,000 to 121,000 though hours were up slightly.

U105, now part of The Wireless Group and not UTV, was up on the year on reach (180,000 to 229,000) and in total hours, but down in both over the last 3 months.

The next RAJAR arrives in August, and this won't, I promise, be a Latin Quarter...


*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: www.mattdeegan.com
Paul Easton with the London perspective:
​www.pauleastonblog.co.uk