RAJAR Q4 2011: National Stations

Reach

Total Global Radio (UK) heads up the nationals and networks once again, though it recorded a -1.9% QoQ and -1.5% YoY decline in reach to 19.4 million. The Capital brand performed particurlarly well for Global.

Bauer Radio’s Total Portfolio placed second in the commercial sector after a 0.5% YoY increase in reach to 13.3 million listeners, while Total GMG Radio enjoyed a 7.2% YoY rise to 5.6 million.

BBC Radio 2 wears the crown of the most listened to radio station yet again after a 2.3% YoY increase in reach, followed by BBC Radio 1 and Radio 4 (including 4 Extra). BBC Radio FIVE LIVE follows, depite posting a -12.1% YoY drop.

Globals Classic FM comes next, though the station saw its reach decline during the winter months (down -6.2% YoY).

Bauer Radio’s Kiss UK and Magic UK both performed well in Q4 – up 0.8% QoQ. Kiss UK also posted a 5.8% YoY increase. Meanwhile, GMG Radio’s Smooth Radio UK recorded a 7.5% YoY rise.

talkSPORT continues to post positive results – up 2% QoQ and 3.5% YoY. Total Absolute Radio Network also enjoyed a 26.6% increase in reach in Q4.

Other success stories in the national market include BBC Radio 4 Extra, BBC 6 Music, Absolute Radio National, 1Xtra from the BBC, Smash Hits Radio and Bauer’s Q.

However, some stations did not perform as well in quarter four, including The Hits, Total XFM (UK), Absolute 80s, Planet Rock, FIVE LIVE SPORTS EXTRA and NME Radio.

Average Hours

Total LBC (UK), Gold Network (UK) and Total Global Radio (UK) all enjoyed a rise in the number of hours listeners stay tuned in for. BBC Asian Network, Total Absolute Radio, Capital Network (UK) and Total XFM (UK) also put in a good performance during the fourth quarter.

In terms of stations, BBC 6 Music, Planet Rock and BBC Radio FIVE LIVE saw their average hours go up – with quarterly and yearly percentage increases.

However, a number of stations saw their average hours decrease during the quarter, including the BBC’s Radio 4, Radio 2, Radio 1 and Radio FIVE LIVE (inc SPORTS EXTRA).

Share

BBC Radio 2 has jumped in to first place in terms of share of listening, ahead of Total Global Radio (UK). BBC Radio 4 also made small gains in Q4.

Since last quarter, Bauer Radio Total Portfolio, the Heart Network and Total GMG Radio have all seen a drop in share. However, the Capital Network has seen a slight increase – up 0.1 percentage points QoQ and 0.3 percentage points YoY.

Bauer’s Kiss also enjoyed a small increase, though Magic saw its share slip on Q3 2011 and Q4 2010.