RAJAR Results Q3 2002 – London Stations

RAJAR data for the third quarter of 2002 reveals a positive period for London listening with the majority of stations seeing weekly reach increase. However, notable declines were seen at the heavy-weight Capital stations.

The sector’s leader in terms of reach, Capital 95.8 FM, experienced a 4.5% decline period on period, bringing its weekly reach to 2.6 million. Capital Gold also fared poorly, experiencing a 16.9% drop to 1.1 million.

Elsewhere, Emap’s Kiss 100 saw a 14.6% period-on-period increase bringing its weekly reach to 1.7 million listeners. Alternative music station, XFM, had a successful period, with weekly reach jumping by 46.2% to just over half a million. According to the station, the increase was spearheaded by Christian O’Connell’s Breakfast Show, which added 100,000 listeners period on period.

Commercial news network, LBC, which was recently acquired by Chrysalis (see Chrysalis Strengthens London Offering With LNR Acquisition), was seen up 33% period on period to 480,000, whilst News Direct increased its weekly reach by 13.7% during September 2002 to 472,000.

Culturally specific stations proved they can continue to thrive in the London market, with Premier Christian Radio increasing its weekly reach by 59.8% period on period.

Capital 95.8 FM experienced the sector’s biggest decline in terms of share, with a 1.5% point drop period on period to 8.8%. However, this was not enough to threaten the station’s dominance of the London market.

Capital’s closest rival in terms of audience share, Heart 106.2, had a less impressive period with share declining by 0.5% points to 6.3%, down from 5.8% the previous period. Magic 105.4 fared better and managed to increase its share by 0.5% during the same period.

XFM reached its highest audience share on record during the three months to September 2002, with a 0.8 percentage point increase. As well as the success of its breakfast show, the station has benefited from the increasing popularity of guitar-based music and high-profile signings such as Zoe Ball.

Elsewhere, speech-radio station, LBC 1152 AM, which is soon to relaunch on the FM network, saw its audience share increase to 3.2%, up from 2.2% the previous period.

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