UK Radio Listening Data - Q4 2017

Thanks Mike for posting.

Do hope we have another 5 years of FM to come in the future.

Indeed it will be a sad day when we get the switch off.

Mike-B posted:

RAJAR have just released the latest UK radio listening trends for Q4 2017.  

I've shown Q4 2016 compared to Q4 2017 & also the change between Q3 & Q4 2017

	Q4 2016	Q3 2017	Q4 2017
FM/AM %	54.8	51.2	50.1
All Digital %	45.2	48.8	49.9
DAB %	32.9	35.9	36.3
DTV %	4.9	4.9	5.1
OnLine/Apps %	7.4	8	8.5

The move from FM to Digital continues & with a significant change during 2017,  its now only 0.1% away from the 50% UK Gov trigger point to start the FM switch off process.  However DAB listening is still only at 36.3% & the problem of automotive DAB receivers is not resolved.

OnLine (web/mobile) had a sizable 0.5% rise in the last quarter after a no change previous quarter.

other than its FM/AM at 50.1% not FM - FM will be less.

I am surprised at how low DAB radio still is - it does suggest to me an issue with the platform despite its free promotion over the years. Still doesn't work reliably when on the move in east Suffolk, despite the new fill in low power transmitters which seemed to make next to no difference - I understand one of the the issues is with multiplex interference with the continent across the North Sea.... interestingly my latest new car had reverted to providing FM/AM only radio where as my previous car had DAB and FM.. perhaps there is a growing loss of confidence DAB - especially as implemented in the UK

Indeed Simon,  but its not FM or AM or DAB that's the 50% trigger point,  its All Digital listening

The triggers are:    1: The national digital radio coverage match FM coverage    2: Local digital radio is able to reach 90% of the population    3: 50% of radio listening to be on digital radio platforms.

I'm not sure about the first two triggers,  "match FM coverage" seems a bit ambiguous to me,  match what & how is it measured.    I believe DAB is now available to more than 90% of the population,  but as we've discussed before,  that in itself is also somewhat ambiguous: I have excellent (in DAB terms) service with four MUX providing so many stations I've lost count & including DAB+.    And unless things have improved,  it's a bit thin on the ground in your neck of the woods.     The 50% mark is about to be crossed,  I will be very surprised indeed if RAJAR Q1-2018 data shows that not to be the case.

I guess its up to Matt Hancock, SoS for Digital, Culture, Media to pull the trigger.   We might wish that Brexit etal will hold this back,  but if we do have a minister who is keen to make a name for himself, Matt Hancock is yer man.