Virgin Radio Shows Signs Of Life After Evans

Virgin Radio’s breakfast show has broken the 2 million listener mark for the first time in over a year, proving that high-profile celebrity DJ, Chris Evans, was far from indispensable.

Capital DJ Steve Penk took over the breakfast show after the controversial departure of Evans last June (see Virgin Terminates Evans’ Contract), and has attracted 300,000 more listeners in his first quarter at the station than Evans did in his last.

Virgin Radio’s programme director, Paul Jackson, said: “It’s a great achievement for Steve and the station as a whole. He’s brought an entirely different show with a different dynamic and has potential to attract an even bigger audience as the show develops.”

The success of the breakfast show bolsters a strong quarter for Virgin Radio, which according to the latest RAJAR data, saw its weekly reach increase 11.6% for the three month period ending in September 2001. The station is also claiming 3.7 million listeners nation-wide and a 6% increase in listening hours.

Overall, London commercial stations showed a strong quarter three performance (see Newsline). Magic extended its weekly reach by 10% to over 1.4 million and Choice added 23.3% taking it to 356,000. Capital continued to dominate with a weekly reach of 2,903,000.

Virgin Radio: 0207 434 1215 www.virginradio.co.uk

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