Rajar Q2 1997- Local Commercial Summary

Quarter 2 Rajar figures released today show that for all local commercial radio stations, audience share rose to 40.2% from 38.5% last year, with weekly reach rising from 49% to 50%.

Amongst the Stations reporting for the first time this quarter there was a good result from Mix 96 which acheived a weekly reach of 34% and a 21% share of listening. 103.4 The Beach also fared well, reporting a weekly reach of 27% and 15.1% share of listening.

Notable results also include Belfast City Beat which showed a very marked increase of 106% in its weekly reach going from 50,000 in 1996 to 103,000 this year. Essex FM (named KPMG Commercial Radio Station of the Year in June this year) did not fare so well year-on-year, with 4.2% drop from 310,000 to 295,000. However, the largest drops in weekly reach were reported by County Sound Radio 1476 AM and Invicta Supergold with percentage decreases of 34.15% and 32% respectively.

Kiss 102 which was bought along with Kiss 105 by the Crysalis group earlier this week *Chrysalis Buys Kiss Stations achieved a 12.4% increase in weekly reach from 242,000 to 271,000. The Yorkshire station Kiss 105, reported a 384,000 weekly reach for this quarter.

Among the large radio groups Total GWR Group increased its total listening hours across its local stations by nearly 9% from 46.9 million to 50.9 million; compared to the total listening hours reported this quarter by EMAP of 65.7 million and total Capital radio hours of 66.4 million.