STRONG BOOST FOR DIGITAL LISTENING
• 31.5% of radio listening hours are now to digital platforms, up 13% year on year
• Digital reach is up by 2.1 million listeners year on year to over 24.2 million weekly listeners
• For the first time, 20% of all radio listening is to DAB digital radio, up 13% year on year
• Listening share to online/apps is now 4.6%, an increase of 37% year on year
• London surges to a digital listening share of 40.8%, driven by the boost to the London DAB digital radio signal in April
• London analogue listening now down to nearly half (51.4%) of radio listening
Listening to digital radio platforms has been boosted to 31.5% of radio listening hours, according to the latest Q2 2012 RAJAR figures released today, up from 26.9% the year before. Digital listening hours are up to 326 million from 290 million, up 13% year on year.
Weekly digital reach is now 46% of UK adults, or 52% of radio listeners. In total 24.2 million people now listen to radio via a digital platform each week, up 10% year on year from 22.1 million in Q2 2011.
DAB maintains strong growth as the dominant digital platform representing 69% of all digital listening. DAB digital radio listening hours have reached 208 million, up 13% year on year. 21.8 million adults have access to a DAB digital radio, up 8% year on year. In the same quarter (Q2 2012) digital radio sales increased by +12%, according to GfK.
Online listening has recorded an increase of 37% year on year, from 34 million hours to 47 million hours. Online listening (including apps) is now 4.6% of all radio listening, up from 3.9% from Q1 2012 and 3.2% in Q2 2011.
London has the highest digital listening share with a surge to 40.8% following the boost to the London DAB digital signal which took place in April. London’s digital listening share increased from 35.7% in Q1 2012 (31.1% in Q2 2011) with analogue listening share decreasing to just over half (51.4%) of radio listening.
Digital listening in cars has grown and now shows a weekly reach of 5 million people, compared with 4 million in Q2 2011.
The strongest age group for digital listening is among 15-24s whose digital listening share has increased to 38.1%, with 62% of 15-24 year olds now listening via a digital platform every week.
The leading stations for digital listening show strong year on year performance see top 20 below. A record 17 of the top 20 now post over a million digital listeners.
• Radio 2 maintains its number one position with an increase of 21.7% in digital listeners year on year
• BBC Radio 4 Extra holds on to its place as the number one digital-only station with 1.6 million listeners, while BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and Radio I Xtra have shown strong growth to around 1.1 million listeners, boosted by major broadcast events in the quarter.
• Capital’s digital listening has increased by 20%, while Kiss and Heart’s digital listening has grown by close to 10%, driven by their national expansion.
• Digital-only station Planet Rock has had a positive growth of 10% quarter on quarter, showing a record reach of 950k.
Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, says: ‘Digital radio now accounts for almost a third of listening and is transforming radio in the UK. London has had a massive boost and leads the way with digital listening now at 41%, and analogue listening decreasing to just 51%. With this unstoppable digital momentum and plans to extend coverage, the achievement of 50% digital listening now looks inevitable.’
Source: RAJAR/ Ipsos – MORI/ RSMB, period ending June 2012, all stations and groups’ results are reported on their specified reporting period and TSA.
TOP TWENTY STATIONS FOR DIGITAL LISTENING
DIGITAL AUDIENCES: Q2 2012
No. Station Digital Audience (‘000s) Year on year change
1 Radio 2 5,228 21.7%
2 Radio 4 4,905 6.7%
3 Radio 1 3,719 11.0%
4 Radio 5 Live 2,812 3.0%
5 Heart 2,109 9.3%
6 Capital 2,058 19.6%
7 Classic FM 1,914 9.7%
8 Kiss 1,845 10.1%
9 BBC R4 Extra 1,636 1.9%
10 Magic UK 1,507 6.3%
11 BBC 6 Music 1,379 8.6%
12 Radio 1 Xtra 1,137 14.6%
13 5LSprts Xtra 1,074 34.8%
14 talkSPORT 1,078 1.4%
15 Smash Hits 1,071 -5.4%
16 Smooth UK 1,039 10.5%
17 Absolute Radio 1,026 39.6%
18 The Hits 973 -19.1%
19 Planet Rock 948 10.6%
20 Radio 3 908 10.3%
About Digital Radio UK
Digital Radio UK works with Government, broadcasters, manufacturers, retailers, and a wide range of stakeholders to accelerate digital listening, to enable the expansion of the digital radio platform, and to ensure that industry meets the consumer-led criteria to be achieved for a proposed radio switchover. Digital Radio UK’s Board comprises representatives from the BBC, RadioCentre, Arqiva, Global Radio, Bauer Media, Real and Smooth Ltd. and Absolute Radio, together with Intellect and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.