Exactly 90 years ago, the British Broadcasting Company - which was formed by radio receiver manufacturers - launched 2BE, its Belfast station, and the latest audience figures just released by RAJAR* confirm that radio is holding its own in the modern multimedia world.
Year on year, radio listening hours in Northern Ireland are up by 3%.
As ever, the story is in the detail. The province's 10 Commercial stations plus BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle attract 69% of all hours, but that is down 4 percentage points on a year ago. Coverage of the World Cup during the survey period and the arrival of the national DAB services on the Digital One multiplex last July may well account for this.
The year on year comparison reveals a significant drop for Citybeat in both reach (159,000 to 127,000) and hours (down by 34%).
Its neighbour U105 suffered a similar degree of loss in hours of 27% on the quarter last time, and will be relieved to now see these improve, though on the year the reach is down by 2,000 to 193,000 with hours slipping by 8%.
The 6-station Q Network enjoyed an upturn in reach (110,000 to 114,000) across the year, with hours down 5%.
Downtown lost reach (280,000 to 269,000) but saw an increase of 23% in hours, and Cool FM posted a decrease in reach (399,000 to 372,000) and hours (13%), though these were both up on the quarter.
Over the year BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle improved both reach (533,000 to 536,000) and hours (up by 4%). One suspects that their predecessors in 2BE might be rather proud!
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI. The figures for each station relate to its own TSA.
More RAJAR analysis:
The national picture from Matt Deegan: http://www.mattdeegan.com
Paul Easton with the London perspective: http://pauleaston.blogspot.co.uk/2014_10_01_archive.html
Year on year, radio listening hours in Northern Ireland are up by 3%.
As ever, the story is in the detail. The province's 10 Commercial stations plus BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle attract 69% of all hours, but that is down 4 percentage points on a year ago. Coverage of the World Cup during the survey period and the arrival of the national DAB services on the Digital One multiplex last July may well account for this.
The year on year comparison reveals a significant drop for Citybeat in both reach (159,000 to 127,000) and hours (down by 34%).
Its neighbour U105 suffered a similar degree of loss in hours of 27% on the quarter last time, and will be relieved to now see these improve, though on the year the reach is down by 2,000 to 193,000 with hours slipping by 8%.
The 6-station Q Network enjoyed an upturn in reach (110,000 to 114,000) across the year, with hours down 5%.
Downtown lost reach (280,000 to 269,000) but saw an increase of 23% in hours, and Cool FM posted a decrease in reach (399,000 to 372,000) and hours (13%), though these were both up on the quarter.
Over the year BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle improved both reach (533,000 to 536,000) and hours (up by 4%). One suspects that their predecessors in 2BE might be rather proud!
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI. The figures for each station relate to its own TSA.
More RAJAR analysis:
The national picture from Matt Deegan: http://www.mattdeegan.com
Paul Easton with the London perspective: http://pauleaston.blogspot.co.uk/2014_10_01_archive.html
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