Industry Revs Up For RAJAR Results

Tomorrow will see the latest wave of RAJAR data released, covering the first quarter of 2006 and offering the first insight into Christian O’Connell’s move to Virgin Radio, and GCap Media’s first quarter trading as a unified company.

All eyes will be on GCap, which has encountered difficulties with the transition from separate entities to a single broadcaster. In today’s Times newspaper, Ralph Bernard, chief executive of GCap, states: “It’s been a tough year and we’ve been up front in our comments that we did underestimate some of the challenges the merger would bring, particularly cultural differences.

“Even though both companies were in the same business, we experienced inevitable operational and technical differences once the merger took place.”

The latest RAJAR data also covers the first period of reduced advertising on GCap’s flagship London station, Capital Radio, which relaunched in January with no more than two adverts in a row, claiming to “get back to the music faster” than any other station (see Capital Radio Returns Following Rebrand).

The latest RAJAR data will be live on MediaTel.co.uk’s Radio database from 7am tomorrow, with detailed reports and analysis of key markets featured on NewsLine throughout the day.

RAJAR: 0207 903 5350 www.rajar.co.uk