UK Radio Listening Data - Q1 2017

Posted by: Mike-B on 21 May 2017

RAJAR have publish the latest UK radio listening trends for Q1 2017.   I've shown Q1 2016 compared to Q1 2017

 Q1 2016Q1 2017% Change
FM/AM %55.952.8-5.87%
DAB %30.933.88.58%
DTV %5.45.51.82%
OnLine %7.88.02.50%

The fall in FM/AM listening continues as does the growth in DAB.  This larger than previous DAB growth trend looks to be reflecting the significant 12% growth in DAB receiver ownership reported in 2016.

The unexpected downward change with 'Online' (internet radio) seen in 2016 was just a trend as I suspected. Although Online listening continues to grow,  I'm a little surprised its not greater than reported.

NB: the missing % data is mobile phone & tablet listening. 

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by yeti42

How do they collect this data?

Does the mere fact of buying a DAB receiver put you in the 33.8% even though it's used in exclusively FM mode after a brief taste of DAB?

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by arb76

Fools... DAB that is.

Internet is without doubt the way forward, and I'm surprised that internet has taken a dip.

Posted on: 21 May 2017 by Mike-B
yeti42 posted:

How do they collect this data?

Does the mere fact of buying a DAB receiver put you in the 33.8% even though it's used in exclusively FM mode after a brief taste of DAB?

Its a lot more complex than you seem to imply;   the data comes from large number of people who feed the data in each quarter.  The summary level I have shown is the tip of the iceberg,  it goes into listening hours by station & regions.   Go have a look yourself  ............   http://www.rajar.co.uk/

Posted on: 22 May 2017 by thebigfredc

Interesting stuff Mike.

It seems we are edging closer to the below 50 per cent threshold required to trigger the end of FM.

Ray

Posted on: 22 May 2017 by Mike-B

Hi Ray, yes the FM % change over this last year has been significant,   55.9% to 52.8%,  so if All Digital's 47.2% trend continues it will be thro' the 50% target this coming year.    I suspect the government might have other things to keep them busy for a year or two,  but even they do stick to the 'plan' & go ahead,  it probably means we will have the switch off sometime in the early 2020's.