MUMBAI: BBC saw strong performances across its portfolio of speech and music stations in a good quarter for radio listening, according to data released by Rajar (Radio Joint Audience Research).
Radios 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 live all showed increases in reach year-on-year, complemented by record performances from three digital-only networks – BBC Radio 7, 1Xtra and 5 Live Sports Extra.
The measurement period – 23 June to 14 September – featured programming including the BBC Proms on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4’s coverage of Cern’s Big Bang experiment, BBC Radio 1’s alcohol social action campaign and a summer of live music on BBC Radio 2.
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BBC Audio and Music director Tim Davie says, “These figures are a reflection of the outstanding range of programmes on offer across BBC Radio during the period. They also show digital-only networks performing well and healthy levels of listening across the industry.”
BBC Radio now has a reach of 32.98 million (from 32.89 million last year and 33.32 million last quarter) and a share of 54.9 per cent (from 54.4 per cent last year and 55.5 per cent last quarter).
Radio 1 attracted 10.87 million listeners per week in the quarter – up from 10.58 million last year and 10.68 million last quarter. Its share – at 9.8 per cent – is level on last quarter (10 per cent) but down on last year (10.6 per cent).
The Chris Moyles Show has 7.02 million listeners – in line with 6.98 million last year and 7.21 million last quarter.
Radio 2 has a weekly reach of 13.06 million listeners (up from 13.01 million last year and 13m last quarter). Share – at 16 million is level with the year (15.8 per cent) and the quarter (16 per cent).
Wake Up To Wogan has 7.74 million listeners tuning in each week – from 7.68 million last year and 7.75 million last quarter.
Radio 3’s reach rose to 1.95 million, from 1.91 million last quarter and 1.94 million last year. Share is 1.2 per cent – the same as last year and last quarter.
Radio 4 has 9.45 million listeners – up on the year (9.26 million) although slightly down on the quarter (9.53 million). It has a share of 11.5 per cent, also up on the year (11.2 per cent ) and down on the quarter (12 per cent).
BBC Radio 5 Live and its digital service 5 Live Sports Extra recorded a combined reach of 5.94 million – up on last year’s combined total (5.65 million) but down on last quarter (6.12 million).
5 Live Sports Extra has a weekly reach of 776,000. Radio 7 has a record 887,000 listeners – up from 730,000 last year – and 1Xtra added nearly 200,000 listeners over the year and now has a reach of 600,000.
BBC 6 Music posted its fifth consecutive record reach, with 552,000 listeners – up on both year and quarter. BBC Asian Network has 419,000 listeners, BBC Local and National Radio saw a drop in reach and share, while the BBC World Service increased its reach to 1.36 million listeners.
