RAJAR Q2 2012: National Stations

Reach

Total Global Radio (UK) heads up the nationals and networks once again, though it recorded a -3.4% YoY decline in reach to 19.3 million. It was up 1.0% QoQ.

Bauer Radio’s Total Portfolio placed second in the commercial sector – up 0.2% QoQ. Its total remains at the 13.3 million listener mark, while Total GMG Radio saw a -1.7% QoQ drop to under 5.5 million.

BBC Radio 2 wears the crown of the most listened to radio station yet again after a 3.5% YoY increase in reach, followed by BBC Radio 1 and Radio 4 (including 4 Extra) – both of which posted YoY increases.

The Total Absolute Radio Network also posted positive results, up 6.7% on last quarter and 9.7% on last year.

However, Global Radio’s Heart Network (UK) and Capital Network (UK) recorded both quarterly and yearly losses – as did BBC Radio FIVE LIVE (including SPORTS EXTRA) and BBC Radio FIVE LIVE (though both are likely to see a boost in Q3 following their Olympic coverage).

Global’s Classic FM enjoyed a small 0.7% increase in Q2, though the station has seen its reach decline over the year (down -4.4% YoY).

Bauer Radio’s Kiss UK has seen an increase of 1.4% over the year, but recorded a -0.2% drop this quarter. Bauer’s Magic also posted mixed results – up 2.5% QoQ but down -9.0% YoY.

talkSPORT – another station likely to see an uplift from the Olympics – suffered a -9.7% QoQ and -9.1% YoY decline in its weekly reach. Its owner UTV Radio (including talkSPORT) posted a -3.6% QoQ and -4.8% fall.

Success stories in the national market include Total Absolute Radio, BBC Radio 4 Extra, Absolute Radio National, Planet Rock, Total Choice (UK) and the BBC’s 1Xtra, FIVE LIVE SPORTS EXTRA and BBC Asian Network UK.

Average Hours

Total LBC (UK), Gold Network (UK) and Total Global Radio (UK) all recorded a fall in the number of hours listeners stay tuned in for during the quarter – though Gold Network did engage listeners for longer over the year (up 5.8%).

It was a good quarter for Total GMG Radio, Bauer Place Portfolio Total, Bauer Radio Total Portfolio, Heart Network (UK), Smooth Radio UK and Real Radio Brand, among others – with a particularly strong performance from the Total Absolute Radio Network.

In terms of stations, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2 and Radio 1 all saw their average hours decrease during the quarter. However, BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio FIVE LIVE (including SPORTS EXTRA) bucked the trend, enjoying YoY increases.

Share

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

However, lots of networks and stations in our analysis enjoyed an increase in share in Q2, including BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 1, BBC FIVE LIVE; and the Total Absolute Radio Network, Bauer Passion Portfolio, Heart Network (UK) and Bauer Radio Total Portfolio.