RAJAR Q2 2011: National Stations

Reach

Total Global Radio (UK) heads up the nationals and networks once again, with its total reach surpassing the 20 million mark for the first time.

Bauer Radio’s Total Portfolio placed second in the commercial sector after a 6.2% YoY increase in reach to 13.8 million listeners, with Magic UK and Kiss UK performing particularly well. Total GMG Radio also enjoyed a 12% YoY rise.

BBC Radio 2 wears the crown of the most listened to radio station yet again, followed by its stable mates Radio 1 and 4 (including 4 Extra). Next in line comes Classic FM, which posted a small 0.9% YoY increase but a -5.8% QoQ drop.

Despite a small dip this quarter (-1.1%), talkSPORT continues to perform well – up by more than 28% on last year to 3.2 million. Its owner, UTV Radio, also fared well with its portfolio, including talkSPORT, reporting a 25.3% YoY rise.

Total Absolute Radio Network enjoyed a 21.8% QoQ increase and is now nearing the 3 million listener mark, with a total reach of 2.9 million, while Total Absolute Radio posted a 18.2% QoQ rise. Its Absolute 80s station recorded a massive 210.4% YoY increase. Absolute Radio Classic Rock is also up 43.9% YoY.

BBC Radio 4 extra, which has been re-branded from BBC Radio 7, is another success story – up 69.1% YoY and 38.5% QoQ. The BBC’s 1Xtra also performed well, increasing its reach by 65.3% YoY, as did FIVE LIVE SPORTS EXTRA (up 45.7% YoY).

Average Hours

Total Absolute Radio enjoyed a rise in the amount of time people are staying tuned in for (up 16% QoQ and 17.6% YoY), while The Sunrise Group posted a 30.3% YoY increase in hours.

Total LBC (UK) saw its average hours bounce back on Q1 2011 – up 4.7% – but it is still down on this time last year (-4.3 YoY). The BBC’s Asian Network UK, 1Xtra and World Service all enjoyed an increase in hours this quarter, as did BBC Radio FIVE LIVE and BBC Radio FIVE LIVE (inc SPORTS EXTRA).

Share

Total Global Radio has overtaken BBC Radio 2 to claim the number one position in terms of share, while BBC Radio 4 (including 4 Extra) sits in third place.

Since last quarter, Bauer’s Total Portfolio, Heart Network (UK) and Capital Network (UK) have made a small gains. Magic UK, Smooth Radio UK and Kiss UK also enjoyed an increase in share of listening.