The media and entertainment group is now the only UK media owner able to offer advertisers audio, outdoor, and premium video all in one place.
24 Jun 2026 | Charli West
Professor Mark Ritson, who presented the findings at Cannes Lions, said audio was an “unfair advantage hiding in plain sight”.
The BBC continues to lead the breakfast time slot, despite Radio 2 seeing marginal declines of 0.6% year-on-year and 0.8% from Q4 2025.
National radio brands across the board saw declines in weekly reach, but green shoots of growth could be found in Bauer’s KISS and Global’s LBC.
A majority of the UK’s largest national radio brands registered year-on-year contractions, including Global’s Heart, Capital and Smooth, as well as Bauer’s Hits Radio portfolio (-8.3% to 12.1m) and Greatest Hits Network (9.7% to 6.8m).
Total digital listening now comprises more than three-quarters (76%) of overall radio listening, according to the latest Rajar figures.
The sector has been formally recognised in the UK’s SIC framework under the classification: ‘Podcast and other audio publishing activities’.
96% of advertisers are backing audio, now investment needs to follow, writes the president of Bauer Media Audio.
The programmatic partnership integrates Amazon DSP directly with DAX, Global’s digital ad exchange.
High Gain Audio analysis shows that both broadcast radio and digital audio consistently outperform the all-media average.
A look back at the biggest themes that have emerged in UK media during what has at times been a predictably chaotic Q1.