Press Releases

• Speech network achieves record reach
• Radio 3 at five-year high
• 5 Live and Sports Extra add 600,000

BBC Radio 4 has added more than 750,000 listeners to achieve its biggest audience under current methodology, according to data released today by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research Ltd).

The station is now listened to by 10.22 million people every week – up from 9.45 million last year and 10 million last quarter – and has a 12.4% share of listening – up from 11.5% last year and 12.1% last quarter.

The Today programme has 6.60 million listeners – up nearly half a million on the same time last year (6.11m), and up on last quarter (6.51m).

During the measurement period (29 June to 20 September), all BBC Radio recorded a weekly reach of 33.58 million (from 32.98m last year and 34.10m last quarter) and a share of 55% (from 54.9% last year and 54.6% last quarter).

Tim Davie, Director, BBC Audio & Music, said: "BBC Radio remains at the heart of millions of people's lives, with two-thirds of the UK population listening to our networks every week.

"Radio 4 goes from strength to strength. In offering radio of the highest quality, it is both delighting loyal listeners and attracting inquisitive new audiences."

BBC Radio 1 drew 11.11 million listeners per week in the quarter, from 10.87 million last year and 11.34 million last quarter. Its share – at 9.9% – is up on last year (9.8%) but down on last quarter (10.3%).

The Chris Moyles Show has 7.04 million listeners – from 7.02 million last year and 7.72 million last quarter.

BBC Radio 2 has a weekly reach of 13.62 million listeners – up from 13.06 million last year and 13.42 million last quarter. Share – at 15.9% – is up on the quarter (15.5%) and slightly down on the year (16%).

Wake Up To Wogan has 7.76 million listeners tuning in each week – from 7.74 million last year and 7.93 million last quarter.

BBC Radio 3 posted its biggest audience in five years in a quarter that featured comprehensive coverage of the BBC Proms.

The network continued its recent strong performance, attracting 2.2 million listeners every week (up from 1.95m last year and 2.02m last quarter) with a share of 1.4% (up from 1.2% last year and last quarter).

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra benefited from Test Match Special coverage of the Ashes to reach a record 963,000 listeners, helping to boost the combined reach of BBC Radio 5 Live and Sports Extra by 600,000 on the year to 6.54 million (5.94m last year and 6.52m last quarter). Combined share is up to 5.3%, from 4.7% last quarter and 4.8% last year.

In digital-only services, BBC 6 Music has 624,000 listeners – up on both year and quarter.

BBC Radio 7 has 884,000 listeners, the BBC Asian Network has 357,000 listeners and BBC 1Xtra has a reach of 547,000.

The BBC World Service has a reach of 1.26 million.

Notes to Editors

BBC Radio Publicity