Rajar Q2 2015: Digital

Listening to radio via a digital platform – in terms of weekly reach – now exceeds over half (55%) of the UK adult population according to the latest Rajar findings, issued today (06 August).

29.5 million people (aged 15+) now tune in to radio via a digitally enabled receiver – DAB, television or online – each week, with the share of all radio listening via a digital platform now standing at 39.9%, up from 36.8% for the corresponding period last year.

The share of listening to DAB has increased by 13% year on year to 26.7% of all listening (24.1% in Q2, 2014).

Digital listening in an average week now stands at 418 million hours. DAB radio is the most popular device, accounting for 67% of all digital hours (27% of total hours). Listening via TV currently represents 12% (5% of total hours) and listening online 16% (6% of total hours).

25% of adults claim to listen to the radio via a mobile phone or tablet at least once per month, up 13% year on year, rising to 36% of 15-24 year olds.

On average a listener tunes into 21.7 hours of live radio per week, reaching a combined total of 1.05 billion.

London continues to be the most digital region, with digital listening widening its lead over analogue in the region to 1.4%, with 47.3% share compared to analogue’s 45.9%.

The leading digital-only station is BBC 6 Music with 2.06 million listeners, re-establishing its lead over BBC Radio 4 Extra (1.95 million).

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra attracted a record audience of 1.62 million, a growth of 77% year on year. Overall almost 56% (55.7%) of BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra’s audience was on a digital platform.

Commercial radio enjoyed strong digital growth, attracting a higher digital share than the BBC for the first time (40.1% vs 39.5%), and led by record-breaking performances by Bauer’s Absolute 80s and Kisstory.

Absolute 80s is the best performing commercial digital only station growing by 29% to a new record of 1.6 million listeners, closely followed in second place by sister station, Kisstory, which grew by 33% to 1.5 million listeners.

The majority of Bauer Radio’s listening is via digital (53.3%) with Absolute Radio boasting 79% of its listening to digital platforms.

“The Q2 2015 listening data is great news for digital radio and for DAB in particular,” said Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK.

“It demonstrates that the growth of digital listening and digital stations is the key source of growth in the sector and shows an accelerating growth of DAB which is eclipsing the other digital platforms.

“Clearly listeners love listening on DAB and that is why it is the key long term broadcasting platform for the future.”