Capital Still Londoner’s Favourite As Smaller Stations Make Gains
The March 2000 RAJAR figures showed Capital 95.8 FM holding onto its position as the most popular station in London. However, the station’s reach dropped below the 3 million mark to 2,715,000, a fall of 10%. The station’s share of listening now stands at 11.6%, ahead of its nearest rival, Heart 106.2, which has 5.2%. Heart has narrowed the gap in audience figures, however, with an increase of 12.3% in reach, bringing it to 1,664,000.
Among the other popular stations, Magic FM increased its reach by 8.3% to 1,469,000, while Virgin 105.8 FM’s reach rose 1.7% to 1,165,000. Virgin saw no increase in share of listening, however, while Magic FM dropped nearly 1% to 5%. Capital Gold still commands a weekly reach of 1.4 million, but this represented a drop of nearly 4%. Its share of listening also fell by nearly 1%. Kiss 100 FM dropped 1.6% to 1,332,000 in reach, but at 3.7% has added half a percent in share of listening.
The largest percentage increases in reach were seen among the smaller stations. FLR (First Love Radio) saw a 200% increase in its weekly reach, which increased to 6,000 listeners; its share of listening in the capital is now 0.2%. Spectrum Radio also takes a 0.2% share of listening, and this AM station saw its weekly reach increase to 146,000, a growth of 64%.
| March 2000 RAJAR Weekly Reach (000s) Comparisons | ||||
| Station | Survey Period | Ending Dec 1999 | Ending Mar 2000 | % Change |
| 963/972 AM Liberty | H | 43 | 50 | 16.3 |
| BBC GLR | Q | 436 | 404 | -7.3 |
| Capital 95.8 FM | Q | 3,017 | 2,715 | -10.0 |
| Capital Gold London | Q | 1,419 | 1,364 | -3.9 |
| Choice FM (London) | H | 272 | 226 | -16.9 |
| FLR (First Love Radio) | H | 2 | 6 | 200.0 |
| Heart 106.2 FM | Q | 1,482 | 1,664 | 12.3 |
| Jazz FM 102.2 | Q | 636 | 673 | 5.8 |
| Kiss 100 FM | Q | 1,353 | 1,332 | -1.6 |
| LBC 1152 AM | Q | 433 | 470 | 8.5 |
| Magic FM | Q | 1,356 | 1,469 | 8.3 |
| News Direct 97.3FM | Q | 470 | 456 | -3.0 |
| Premier Christian Radio | Q | 178 | 152 | -14.6 |
| Ritz Country 1035 | Q | 158 | 134 | -15.2 |
| Spectrum Radio on 558 AM | Q | 89 | 146 | 64.0 |
| Sunrise Radio (London) | H | 308 | 331 | 7.5 |
| Virgin 105.8 FM London | Q | 1145 | 1,165 | 1.7 |
| XFM | Q | 383 | 420 | 9.7 |
| March 2000 RAJAR Share Of Listening (%) Comparisons | ||||
| Station | Survey Period | Ending Dec 1999 | Ending Mar 2000 | % Point Change |
| 963/972 AM Liberty | H | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| BBC GLR | Q | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Capital 95.8 FM | Q | 11.9 | 11.6 | -0.3 |
| Capital Gold London | Q | 4.3 | 3.4 | -0.9 |
| Choice FM (London) | H | 3.1 | 2.4 | -0.7 |
| FLR (First Love Radio) | H | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Heart 106.2 FM | Q | 4.5 | 5.2 | 0.7 |
| Jazz FM 102.2 | Q | 1.9 | 1.5 | -0.4 |
| Kiss 100 FM | Q | 3.2 | 3.7 | 0.5 |
| LBC 1152 AM | Q | 3.1 | 3 | -0.1 |
| Magic FM | Q | 5.9 | 5 | -0.9 |
| News Direct 97.3FM | Q | 0.9 | 0.6 | -0.3 |
| Premier Christian Radio | Q | 0.8 | 1 | 0.2 |
| Ritz Country 1035 | Q | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Spectrum Radio on 558 AM | Q | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Sunrise Radio (London) | H | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.3 |
| Virgin 105.8 FM London | Q | 3.1 | 3.1 | 0.0 |
| XFM | Q | 1 | 1.2 | 0.2 |
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