Rajar Q1 2019: Digital

According to the latest Rajar results for Q1 2019, digital radio has experienced a significant surge – and now encompasses 56.4% of all radio listening, up 3.8% on the previous quarter.

In terms of reach, 36 million adults or two thirds of population aged 15+ are now tuning in to radio via a digitally enabled platform – including DAB radios, TV sets, online or via an app – each week.

In an average week, digital listening accounts for 577 million hours; DAB dominates with a 73% share of digital listening hours, while TV’s take 9% and online 18%.

Meanwhile, digital listening in cars increased by 20 million hours or 24% year-on-year to reach a new record share of 41.5% of all in car listening.

The first quarter of 2019 witnessed a number of digital station developments, including a new schedule for BBC 6 Music; the launch of Chris Evans’ breakfast show on Virgin Radio; and new national stations, including Virgin Radio Anthems, Virgin Radio Chilled, and Greatest Hits Radio.

Virgin Radio’s reach increased threefold to 1.3 million listeners from 427,000 year-on-year, boosted by the return of The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, which has launched with more than a million listeners.

The most popular digital-only station remains BBC 6 Music with a weekly reach of 2.5 million listeners, with Radio 4 Extra the second most popular with 2.2m listeners.

KISSTORY is the most popular commercial digital-only station, with a weekly reach of 1.8 million listeners, followed by Absolute 80s with 1.7 million listeners, and Heart 80s reaching a new record of 1.4 million listeners.

Digital listening grew across local and national stations to now account for over 40% of all local listening and nearly 65% of all national listening.