Radio 1 Rajar Improvements

The latest Rajar release, for Q4 1995, shows Radio 1’s revamp to halt its declining audience seems to be working. Radio 1’s share of listening has risen to 12%, the highest it has been since Q2 1994. Total number of listeners has risen to 11.232 million, an increase of 223,000 listeners compared to a year ago, with reach rising from 23% to 24%. Average hours per listener has also grown from 8.7 hours a year ago to 9.3 this quarter.

Radio 1 and Radio Five Live were the only BBC nationals to improve their performances on a year ago; Radio Five Live increased its audience to 4.833 million, or 10% reach. Radio 2 lost 478,000 listeners year on year; a decrease of 1% point to 18% reach, and a decrease in share of audience from 12.8% to 11.6% this quarter. Radio 4 recorded a loss of 34,000 listeners, but this was not big enough to affect its consistent weekly reach of 18%.

BBC local stations managed a 10.1% share of listening, slightly down on last year’s 10.2% share. This is an overall decrease of 185,000 listeners compared to last year, to 9.463 million. Total BBC listening had a 47.2% share of listening compared to 48.6% a year ago.