RAJAR Q1 2012: National Stations

Reach

Total Global Radio (UK) heads up the nationals and networks once again, though it recorded a -0.6% QoQ and -1.9% YoY decline in reach to 19.3 million, with the Capital brand continuing to perform well for Global.

Bauer Radio’s Total Portfolio placed second in the commercial sector despite a -0.2% QoQ dip in reach. Its total remains at the 13.3 million listener mark, while Total GMG Radio enjoyed a 4.1% YoY rise to 5.6 million.

BBC Radio 2 wears the crown of the most listened to radio station yet again after a 2.1% QoQ increase in reach, followed by BBC Radio 1 and Radio 4 (including 4 Extra).

Global’s Classic FM enjoyed a small 1.5% increase in reach in Q1, though the station has seen its reach decline over the year (down -10.5% YoY).

Bauer Radio’s Kiss UK performed particularly well, up 4.5% QoQ and 7.2% YoY. However, Magic UK posted a -6.7% QoQ and -5.6% YoY decline.

Meanwhile, GMG Radio’s Smooth Radio UK recorded a 7.6% YoY rise.

talkSPORT enjoyed positive QoQ results – up 1.2% QoQ, however its reach has fallen over the year, down -0.5%.

Total Absolute Radio Network posted positive results, up 5.8% on last quarter and 25.2% on last year.

Other success stories in the national market include BBC Radio 4 Extra (up 29.6% YoY), BBC 6 Music (up 12.1% YoY), Absolute Radio National, (31.1% YoY), FIVE LIVE SPORTS EXTRA (up 54.5% QoQ and 19.1% YoY), Jazz FM (13.9% YoY) and Absolute 80s (37.3% YoY).

Average Hours

Total LBC (UK), Gold Network (UK) and Total Global Radio (UK) all enjoyed a rise in the number of hours listeners stay tuned in for over the year.

However, it was not a particularly good quarter for BBC Asian Network, Capital Network (UK), Total Choice (UK) and Total XFM (UK), all of which posted QoQ declines.

In terms of stations, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2, Planet Rock and BBC Radio FIVE LIVE all saw their average hours go up – with quarterly and yearly percentage increases.

Share

BBC Radio 2 remains first place in terms of share of listening, ahead of Total Global Radio (UK).

Since last quarter, Total Global Radio, Bauer Radio Total Portfolio, Bauer Place Portfolio Total and Total GMG Radio have all seen a drop in share.

However, Bauer’s Kiss UK and Magic UK have both seen a slight increase in share.