Press Releases & Press Packs

31.07.03

ABOUT THE BBC

BBC Radio strong share performance despite increased competition

• BBC Radio has 53% share of radio listening

• Radio 2 has record share of 16.3%

• BBC London 94.9 tops 450,000 listeners

BBC Radio continues to command the major share of radio listening with 53% - down 0.5% on the last quarter but up 0.4% on the year - compared to Commercial Radio's 44.9% according to figures released today by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research).

The figures, which cover the period 24 March to 22 June 2003, show the population fall revealed by the latest census figures appears to be mirrored in the radio audience with some falls across the industry.

BBC reach at 31.96 million showed a fall of 1.31 million quarter on quarter and 624,000 year on year compared with Commercial Radio's reach of 31.43 million which also fell.

Jenny Abramsky, Director of BBC Radio & Music, said: "This is an impressive share performance by the BBC which still commands 53% despite the fact that more stations than ever are being measured.

"Realistically we must expect that this share will gradually be eroded as even more stations come aboard."

All of the BBC national networks showed some decline in reach.

For the World Service however, which recorded its second set of RAJAR figures, there was an increase of around 70,000 listeners bringing its figures to 1.46 million listeners. Share remained unchanged at 0.7%.

Radio 2 remained the biggest and most listened to station this quarter achieving a massive record share of 16.3%, up 0.6% on the quarter and 0.7% on the year.

Reach remained high at 13.03 million, down around 200,000 on the quarter and 17,000 on the year.

Terry Wogan, Ken Bruce and Jonathan Ross broke new records this quarter and Jeremy Vine's performance was absolutely stable in this, his second quarter.

Radio 3's figures showed virtually no change with a 1.1% share stable on quarter and year. Reach at 2.00 million was likewise stable.

Radio 1's reach for listeners aged 15+ was 9.87 million, down 473,000 on the quarter and 656,000 on the year. Share at 7.6% is down 0.3% on the quarter and 0.7% on the year.

Radio 1's reach amongst listeners aged 4+ is 12.04 million, down 800,000 on the quarter and 780,000 on the year. Share is 8%, down 0.4% on the quarter and 0.9% on the year.

Radio 4's reach fell back from last quarter's record 10.03 million to 9.70 million (9.76 million last year). Share at 11.4% was also down on the quarter (11.8%) but up 0.1% on last year.

Radio Five Live's reach of 5.80 million is also down on the quarter (by 612,000) and inevitably on the year (by 856,000) since the 2002 record figures of 6.65 million were achieved during the World Cup.

In what is traditionally a low quarter with the end of the football season, the daytime output, including the new breakfast show with Nicky Campbell and Victoria Derbyshire, continues to perform well.

Five Live overall shows long term growth compared with the same quarter figures in 2001. Five Live's share of 4.4% is down 0.3% on the quarter and 0.5% on the World Cup year.

BBC Local/Regional Radio saw its reach fall to 10.15 million from last quarter's high of 11.12 million but fairly stable on last year's 10.28 million. Its share of 11.3% is down 0.2% on the quarter but stable on the year.

Of the individual stations, BBC Radio Scotland has topped 1 million listeners with an increase of 80,000 year on year.

BBC London 94.9 has reached 454,000, up 198,000 listeners on last year.

The BBC Asian Network, recording its second set of national figures, showed a reach of 421,000 compared with last quarter's 433,000 and an unchanged share of 0.3%. Listening in London has increased from 77,000 last quarter to 92,000.

Notes to Editors

BBC World Service achieves a record number of UK listeners

Record-breaking figures yet again for Wales' BBC radio stations

Listeners on the increase for BBC Radio Sheffield

More good news for BBC Radio Kent

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire increases in popularity with listeners

BBC Radio Devon celebrates RAJAR success

Weekly Reach - BBC Radio (reach is in thousands)

Audience Share - BBC Radio

Freeview offers the BBC's eight television channels, interactive services from BBCi, as well as 11 BBC radio networks.

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