BBC Retains Lead In RAJAR Results
Having seen a slight increase in share of listening in June’s period on period analysis, Commercial Radio dropped back again over the three months to September. Today’s RAJAR results show that Commercial Radio’s share of listening was 46.5%, a fall of 0.1 percentage points period on period. Meanwhile, All BBC grew 0.3 percentage points to a 51.6% share of listening.
Losses for both sides were felt in share of listening for local radio. Local Commercial fell 0.3 percentage points to 38.3% share quarter on quarter, while BBC Local fell 0.2 percentage points to 11.3%
| September 2001 RAJAR Share Of Listening Comparisons | ||||
| Station | Survey Period | Ending Jun 2001 | Ending Sep 2001 | % Point Change |
| All BBC | Q | 51.3 | 51.6 | 0.3 |
| All BBC Network Radio | Q | 39.9 | 40.2 | 0.3 |
| All Commercial | Q | 46.6 | 46.5 | -0.1 |
| All Local Commercial | Q | 38.6 | 38.3 | -0.3 |
| All National Commercial | Q | 8.0 | 8.2 | 0.2 |
| BBC Local Radio | Q | 11.4 | 11.2 | -0.2 |
| BBC Local/Regional | Q | 11.4 | 11.3 | -0.1 |
| Other Listening | Q | 2.1 | 1.9 | -0.2 |
In a year on year analysis, it was a similar story, with BBC Radio’s share of listening rising 0.2 percentage points while Commercial Radio’s share fell by the same amount. Local Commercial’s difficulties were more apparent in this analysis, showing a reduction of 0.4 percentage points.
The weekly reach of all Radio fell 1% period on period, but remained just above the 44m mark. BBC Radio saw a 0.3% increase in its reach, taking it to 32.3m, around 300,000 ahead of Commercial Radio, which dropped 0.3% during the quarter.
| September 2001 RAJAR Weekly Reach (000s) Comparisons | ||||
| Station | Survey Period | Ending Jun 2001 | Ending Sep 2001 | % Change |
| All BBC | Q | 32,278 | 32,363 | 0.3 |
| All BBC Network Radio | Q | 28,076 | 28,173 | 0.3 |
| All Commercial | Q | 32,180 | 32,076 | -0.3 |
| All Local Commercial | Q | 27,440 | 27,321 | -0.4 |
| All National Commercial | Q | 11,249 | 11,286 | 0.3 |
| All Radio | Q | 44,536 | 44,099 | -1.0 |
| BBC Local Radio | Q | 8,292 | 8,263 | -0.3 |
| BBC Local/Regional | Q | 10,521 | 10,621 | 1.0 |
| Other Listening | Q | 3,130 | 2,950 | -5.8 |
The year on year analysis presented a more healthy picture, with increases across the board. All Radio increased 1.6% compared to the same period last year. BBC Radio saw a 3.8% increase and All Commercial a 3% increase.
Some of the best news was for BBC Local and Regional. Reach for BBC Local stations increased 8.5% year on year, while BBC Local and Regional saw a 9% increase.
The average hours of listening increased for All Radio in a quarter on quarter analysis, by 2.9% to 24.8. There was comforting news for Commercial Radio after the falls in reach and share, when hours of listening for its National stations were shown to have risen 5.3% quarter on quarter, to 7.9.
| September 2001 RAJAR Average Hours Per Listener Comparisons | ||||
| Station | Survey Period | Ending Sep 2000 | Ending Sep 2001 | % Change |
| All BBC | Q | 17.3 | 17.4 | 0.6 |
| All BBC Network Radio | Q | 15.6 | 15.6 | 0.0 |
| All Commercial | Q | 15.7 | 15.8 | 0.6 |
| All Local Commercial | Q | 15.3 | 15.3 | 0.0 |
| All National Commercial | Q | 7.5 | 7.9 | 5.3 |
| All Radio | Q | 24.1 | 24.8 | 2.9 |
| BBC Local Radio | Q | 12.4 | 12.1 | -2.4 |
| BBC Local/Regional | Q | 11.9 | 11.7 | -1.7 |
| Other Listening | Q | 7.2 | 7.2 | 0.0 |
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