The Media in Figures: Radio listening figures

ON average, 89 per cent of the UK adult (15+) population tune into radio each week – according to the latest radio listening figures, published earlier this month by auditing body, RAJAR.

That’s some 47.8 million people.

Among other findings issued:

• On average, a listener tunes into 21.3 hours of radio per week

• Share of all radio listening to any digital platform is 37.9 per cent

• 26 million adults have access to a DAB receiver – up seven per cent year-on-year

• Listening online reaches 62 million hours per week – up five per cent year-on-year

• 22 per cent of adults listen to radio via their mobile phone or tablet at least once per month – up 38 per cent* year-on-year (*as of Q1 2014, this figure contained listening via a tablet)

• But the 47.8 million people (aka 89 per cent) who tuned in on average during the fourth quarter of last year, was down approximately 237,000 adults on the same quarter of the previous year (Q3, 2014)

• The total number of hours listened to radio was 1.02 billion

• The number of ‘digital listening hours’ for Q4 2014 was up by four per cent year-on-year, to 385 million hours being listened to every week

• DAB radio is still the most popular device when it comes to listening to digital radio, accounting for 66 per cent of all digital hours. Listening via DTV (digital television) represents 12 per cent and listening online 16 per cent of all digital listening hours

• DAB hours are 257 million from 241 million in Q4 2013 – up six per cent

• Online hours are 62 million from 59 million in Q4 2013 – up five per cent

• DTV hours are 48 million from 53 million in Q4 2013 – down 11 per cent

• The share of all radio listening via a digital platform now stands at 37.9 per cent up from 36.1 per cent in the corresponding last year (c.f Q4 2013). The share of listening to DAB has increased by six per cent year-on-year to 25.2 per cent of all listening (23.4 per cent in Q4 2013)

• The share of all listening via DTV has decreased from 5.2 per cent in Q4, 2013 to 4.7 per cent this quarter. Online share of all radio listening has increased steadily to 6.1 per cent, up from 5.8 per cent in Q4, 2013 and 4.9 per cent in the same period in 2012

• Access to a DAB receiver is up seven per cent year-on-year and currently 48.9 per cent of the population, or 26.1 million adults (aged 15+), claim to live in a household with access to a DAB set (c.f. 24.4 million adults in Q4, 2013)

• 22 per cent of adults 15+ claim to listen to the radio via a mobile phone or tablet at least once per month. This is up 38 per cent year-on-year. As of Q1 2014, this figure contained listening to radio via a tablet

• 36 per cent of 15-24 year-olds claim to listen to the radio via a mobile phone or tablet at least once per month, up 20 per cent year-on-year.

Source: RAJAR, February 5 2015.