Heart 106.2 FM Retakes London Top Spot From Magic FM
Heart 106.2 FM grabbed the top spot in London back from Magic FM, enjoying a period on period increase of 3% in Q3, giving it a weekly reach of 1.7 million listeners, the highest figure of the London stations. Heart’s share of listening stayed static quarter to quarter, making it the station with the highest share of listening in London.
The latest RAJAR figures for Q3 2006 also reveal that Virgin 105.8 FM added nearly 12% reach period on period, although it was down 7% year on year. Its share of listening remained relatively static, at 2.7%. Meanwhile, total Virgin Radio AM/FM (London) had a weekly reach of 1.1 million and a share of listening of 3.4%.
Kiss 100 FM saw a decline in share of listening of 0.6% points period on period and its weekly reach was also down on last quarter, falling 11.7% period on period and 2.9% year on year. This contrasts with the station’s strong Q2, which saw its weekly reach up 16.4% on Q1 (see Magic FM Stays On Top In London While Kiss 100 FM Blossoms).
Magic FM lost the top spot in London following a period on period decline in weekly reach of 12%, and a year on year decline of 4%, to leave it with 1.6 million listeners. Magic FM’s share of listening dropped 1.2% points, to leave it in second place in London.
GCap Media’s Capital Radio saw its weekly reach drop by nearly a fifth year on year and a period on period fall of 11%, leaving it with nearly 1.5 million listeners. In addition, the station’s share of listening dropped a marginal 0.3% points period on period. Capital remained the station with the third highest weekly reach in London, with a figure of 1.4 million.
Capital Radio recently launched its first advertising campaign in 18 months, sending out a team armed with innuendo strewn notes (see Capital Radio In New Ad Campaign), possibly in an effort to combat the effects of the station’s no more than two ads in a row policy, which some feel may have adversely affected GCap’s advertising revenues (see GCap Media’s Ad Revenue Drops).
| September 2006 RAJAR Weekly Reach (000s) Comparisons | ||||||
| Station | Ending Sep 05 | Ending Dec 05 | Ending Mar 06 | Ending Jun 06 | Ending Sep 06 | YoY % Change Sep 05 vs Sep 06 |
| 95.8 Capital Radio | 1,805 | 1,802 | 1,720 | 1,641 | 1,461 | -19.06 |
| Heart 106.2 FM | 1,911 | 1,763 | 1,696 | 1,664 | 1,714 | -10.31 |
| Kiss 100 FM | 1,363 | 1,432 | 1,288 | 1,499 | 1,324 | -2.86 |
| Magic FM (London) | 1,712 | 1,672 | 1,865 | 1,867 | 1,636 | -4.44 |
| Virgin 105.8 FM London | 993 | 902 | 957 | 823 | 921 | -7.25 |
| September 2006 RAJAR Share Of Listening (%) Comparisons | ||||||
| Station | Ending Sep 05 | Ending Dec 05 | Ending Mar 06 | Ending Jun 06 | Ending Sep 06 | YoY % Change Sep 05 vs Sep 06 |
| 95.8 Capital Radio | 5.1 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.7 | -0.40 |
| Heart 106.2 FM | 6.4 | 6.0 | 5.7 | 6.1 | 6.1 | -0.30 |
| Kiss 100 FM | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 0.30 |
| Magic FM (London) | 5.3 | 4.9 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 5.3 | 0.00 |
| Virgin 105.8 FM London | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 0.00 |
RAJAR: 020 7292 9040 www.rajar.co.uk