Rajar Q2 2014: National stations and networks

Reach

Total Global Radio UK has maintained its dominance over the national stations and networks, recording almost no change since the first quarter (-0.1%). The network has more than 21.3 million listeners, on average, each week. Over the last year the network has seen its reach grow 6.1%.

Still out-performing BBC Radio 2 for a second consecutive quarter after the acquisition of Absolute Radio at the end of last year, Bauer Radio’s total portfolio saw a slight drop of -1.4% from the first quarter, recording more than 15.9 million weekly listeners. However, over the last 12 months, the network has seen 13.3% growth.

Getting used to its new place in the rankings, BBC Radio 2, almost neck and neck with the whole of Bauer’s network, has a little under 15.5 million weekly listeners.

The station, home to popular breakfast host Chris Evans, was down only -0.5%, quarter on quarter (QoQ) and was up 0.3% year on year (YoY).

Sister station BBC Radio 1 has managed to climb into fourth place in the rankings after BBC Radio 4 (including 4 Extra) saw a 4.1% drop over the quarter, dropping into fifth position.

Youth seemingly triumphing over culture and debate, BBC Radio 1 recorded a 2.5% rise in the second quarter to reach almost 10.8 million listeners as BBC Radio 4 (including 4 Extra) lost 458,000.

Elsewhere, a strong performance for Bauer’s Passion Portfolio – which has now added Absolute – saw a huge 30.9% rise over the last 12 months to reach almost 10 million listeners each week. The portfolio was up a healthy 4.1% QoQ.

Heart Network (UK) also put in a strong performance over the year, up 20.4% (just over 9 million listeners), despite a fairly static quarter with growth down just -0.6%. The performance is likely due to the re-branding of stations to Heart following the merger of Global Radio and Real and Smooth Limited.

Similarly, Smooth Radio Network – which re-branded Gold stations as Smooth – will be celebrating the impact of the move after recording growth of 24.7%. The network was up 6.8% in quarter two and now has a weekly audience of more than 4.6 million.

Riding high on the back of the World Cup, talkSPORT recorded it highest audience ever with almost 3.4 million listeners. The station was up 5.6% on the first quarter and up 3.9% YoY.

Less to shout about for Total Absolute Radio which saw a -2.9% dip this quarter and a -9.2% dip over the last 12 months. The station still maintains a healthy 1.8 million listeners, however.

Share

There has been a change in overall share of listening since the first quarter of 2014, with BBC Radio 2 dropping -0.2 percentage points, and into second place with 17.7%.

The station was overtaken by Total Global Radio (UK), up 0.4 percentage points to 17.8%.

Bauer Radio (total) also moved up in the rankings after BBC Radio 4 (including 4 Extra) witnessed a -0.7 percentage point drop – the largest in the market. The change means Bauer now has a 12.9% share and BBC Radio 4 (including 4 Extra) 12.5%.

Most other quarterly increases and decreases were marginal.

Average Hours

As usual there were mixed results for radio stations across the nation, with there being a fairly even split between those recording increases in average hours per listener and those recording declines.

The top five radio stations – in terms of total hours listened to – all saw declines compared with the previous quarter. However BBC Radio 4 (including 4 Extra), BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4 all managed to keep their average above 11 hours once again.

While the BBC’s Radio 4 Extra and Radio 3 were both down over the quarter (-11.1% and -15.2%, respectively) after a packed summer of sport, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra was up an impressive 36% QoQ.

While Global’s top station in terms of listening hours, LBC Network (UK), was down -4.6% over the period, the group recorded small successes elsewhere, with Total Global Radio (UK), Gold Network (UK), Heart Network (UK) and Smooth Radio Network (UK) all increasing their average weekly listening hours by moderate amounts.

There were mixed fortunes for Bauer, with Total Absolute Radio (-20.3% QoQ), Absolute Radio National (-18.2% QoQ), Magic UK (-12.5% QoQ) and Kiss Fresh (-36.7% QoQ) all recording significant declines in listening hours.

However, time-hopping listeners appeared to be aplenty, with Absolute 80s (9.8%), Absolute Radio 70s (10.8%), Absolute Radio 00s (8.9%) and Absolute Radio Classic Rock (14.6%) all increasing their average weekly listening hours.