RAJAR Q1 09: London Stations

Magic 105.4 remains above all the other London stations for the ninth consecutive quarter in terms of weekly reach, despite falling behind Heart 106.2 FM in both share of listening and average hours per listener, according to RAJAR figures for Q1 2009.

Magic’s average weekly reach in London is back above the 2 million listeners’ mark – its highest ever reach – after a year on year increase of almost 7%, however, Heart has overtaken the station in the two other RAJAR categories.

Heart 106.2 now has the largest overall share of listening in the Capital at nearly 6%, after a year on year rise of 0.1 percentage points and a fairly impressive period on period increase of 0.9 percentage points.

Magic’s share of listening, meanwhile, slipped by 0.1 percentage points year on year – and by 0.3 percentage points period on period – to leave it with a total share of 5.7%.

Heart also raced ahead of Magic in terms of average hours per listener – despite a 10% year on year decline, Heart enjoyed a period on period rise of 8.6%, taking its total to around 6.3 average hours per week.

Magic saw a similar year on year decline of around 12% but also suffered a period on period drop of nearly 8%, leaving its average hours per listener at 5.8, also below Total Absolute Radio (London)’s average hours of 5.9.

Total Absolute Radio (London) has changed its reporting from half yearly to quarterly. Looking at quarterly figures for Q4 2008 its reach has rallied from 819,000 to 919,000 listeners in Q1 2009, which is a 12.2% increase.

Total Absolute Radio launched on 29 September 2008 after The Times of India group bought out Virgin Radio (see Absolute Radio Targets 3m Listeners).

Kiss 100 FM enjoyed a good overall period in all three categories in RAJAR’s Q1 2009 results – the station’s weekly reach rose to more than 1.7 million listeners after a year on year increase of 7.8% (8.1% period on period), taking it to its largest reach figure since September 2002.

Kiss’ share of listening was also up by 0.3 percentage points to 4.6% in total, while its average hours per listener stands at a respectable 5.7. Kiss managed to increase its average hours by 1.8% during the period, despite a 5% year on year drop.

95.8 Capital Radio had a mixed period. The London-based station saw its weekly reach increase by an impressive 19.5% year on year – and by 15% period on period – taking it up to more than 1.8 million listeners.

However, its share of listening remained relatively static at 4.7% and its average hours per listener dropped fairly significantly.

Capital suffered a 17.2% year on year downturn – 14.5% period on period – in its average hours, taking it down to 5.3 in total, after a recent peak of 7 hours in Q3 2008.