Press Releases BBC benefits from blend of speech and music radio

Category: Radio
Date: 16.10.2008
Printable version

Increases across portfolio of speech and music stations

Records for digital-only networks 6 Music, BBC Radio 7 and 1Xtra

Good quarter for radio listening

The BBC saw strong performances across its portfolio of speech and music stations in a good quarter for radio listening, according to data released today by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research Ltd).

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 BBC 5 Live Sports Extra.

The measurement period - 23 June to 14 September 2008 - 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.

Tim Davie, Director BBC Audio & Music, said: "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 32.89m last year and 33.32m last quarter) and a share of 54.9% (from 54.4% last year and 55.5% last quarter).

Radio 1 attracted 10.87 million listeners per week in the quarter - up from 10.58m last year and 10.68m last quarter. Its share - at 9.8% - is level on last quarter (10%) but down on last year (10.6%).

The Chris Moyles Show has 7.02 million listeners - in line with 6.98m last year and 7.21m last quarter.

Radio 2 has a weekly reach of 13.06 million listeners (up from 13.01m last year and 13m last quarter). Share - at 16% is level with the year (15.8%) and the quarter (16%).

Wake Up To Wogan has 7.74 million listeners tuning in each week - from 7.68m last year and 7.75m last quarter.

Radio 3's reach rose to 1.95m, from 1.91m last quarter and 1.94m last year. Share is 1.2% - the same as last year and last quarter.

Radio 4 has 9.45 million listeners - up on the year (9.26m) although slightly down on the quarter (9.53m). It has a share of 11.5%, also up on the year (11.2%) and down on the quarter (12%).

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 (5.65m) but down on last quarter (6.12m).

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.

BBC Radio Publicity

Notes to Editors