RAJAR Results Q2 2003: Strong Performance For National Commercial Radio

Analysis of the latest RAJAR listening figures for the second quarter of 2003 reveals a positive performance for All Commercial Radio, which saw its share of listening increase by 0.4% points period on period to just below 45%. Meanwhile, the lead enjoyed by All BBC was narrowed by a 0.5% points decline, which reduced its share of listening to 53%.

All National Commercial also performed well during the three months to June 2003, with its share of listening increasing by 0.5% points period on period to 8.4%. All Local Commercial saw its share of listening remain virtually static during the second quarter of this year at 36.5%. Meanwhile, BBC Local Radio dipped by 0.4% points period on period and Other Listening saw its share of listening inch up by 0.1% points to 2.1%.

The picture is somewhat different in year on year analysis, with All Commercial seeing its share of listening dip by 0.6% points in the second quarter of 2003 and All BBC increasing its lead with a 0.4% points gain during the same period. Meanwhile, All National Commercial performed strongly with its share of listening rising by 0.3% points and All Local Commercial escaped relatively unscathed with a modest 0.1% point year on year decline. All BBC Network Radio saw its share of listening slip by 0.5% points, while BBC Local and BBC Local/Regional remained static year on year.

Weekly reach for All Radio declined by 2.5% period on period during the second quarter of 2003. Within this All Commercial experienced a notable 2.1% decline to just 31.4 million, but this was overshadowed by All BBC, which saw its weekly reach fall by 3.9% year on year to just below 32 million.

The three months to June 2003 proved to be an impressive period for All National Commercial, which experienced a solid 3.1% period on period increase in weekly reach. However, this was offset by All Local Commercial, which slipped by 2.7% during the same period to below 27 million. Meanwhile, BBC Local Radio suffered a sharp 11.4% decline during the second quarter of this year to 7.7 million and BBC Local/Regional dipped by 8.8% period on period to just over 10 million.

The picture remains largely unchanged in year on year analysis, with All Radio seeing its weekly reach decline by 0.9% in the first quarter of this year. Again a 0.5% drop for All Commercial Radio was overshadowed by a 1.9% fall for All BBC. Things were more positive for All National Commercial Radio, which saw its weekly reach rise by a solid 6.2% year on year in the three months to June 2003. All Local Commercial suffered a slight 0.8% year on year decline, while BBC Local Radio saw its weekly reach drop by a more significant 2.5%.

The growth of Other Listening is better reflected in year on year analysis, which reveals a 5% increase during the second quarter of this year.

Once again RAJAR data for the three months to June 2003 paints a mixed picture of average hours per listener. All BBC experienced a healthy 2.4% year in year increase to 17.4 hours, while All Commercial suffered a 2.0% decline during the same period to 14.9 hours per listener. Meanwhile, All Local Commercial saw its average hours per listener fall by 2.7% year on year and BBC Local Radio recorded a 2.5% increase to 12.2 hours. Other listening saw the most significant upward movement, with a 6.8% year on year increase during the second quarter of this year.

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