In the week that the Media Act 2024 became law, allowing UK radio station operators to provide less local programming, the latest RAJAR* figures for the period up to September 15th continue to confirm that listeners here expect and appreciate just the opposite.
Overall, Radio in NI is in a good place, with an increase year-on-year in the total time spent listening to all stations, now at over 31 million hours, of which the local broadcasters achieve almost 18 million, representing a 56% share of hours.
Cool FM in attracting 503,000 listeners a week maintains its top spot in reach, but 12 months ago this was 527,000, with hours similarly decreasing to 4,302,000 from 4,590,000, and share to 13.7 from 15.6.
This results in BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle moving ahead to lead on hours (5,430,000 from 4,733,000) and on share (17.3 from 16.1), but their audience number is down on a year ago, to 462,000 from 499,000.
Q Radio reaches 344,000 listeners (was 362,000), with 1,856,000 hours (were 2,173,000) and a 5.9 share (was 7.4).
At Downtown reach is virtually unchanged (289,000 from 288,000), hours were up (2,670,000 from 2,253,000) as was share (8.5 from 7.6). There was a similar upward trend at Downtown Country with reach at 119,000 (was 91,000), hours at 1,011,000 (were 699,000) and share of 3.2 (was 2.4).
In its original FM area U105 attracts 200,000 weekly listeners (were 249,000), 2,288,000 hours (were 2,381,000) and an 11.8 share (was 13.2), while in the station's DAB-only area posting an additional 28,000 listeners (were 31,000) with 147,000 hours (were 180,000) and a 1.2 share (was 1.6).
Finally, Greatest Hits Radio NI reached 72,000 listeners (compared with 106,000 as a national service a year ago) and Hits Radio NI debuted with 11,000 listeners.
Each station is quoted within its own Total Survey Area.
*RAJAR is compiled by Ipsos-MORI
RSS Feed