Press Releases Return to form for "unique" Radio 3

Category: Radio
Date: 24.07.2008
Printable version

Classical music and arts station increases reach and share

Strong performance from speech radio networks

Record for 6 Music

BBC Radio 3 is attracting more listeners for longer, according to data released today by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research Ltd).

The network – which offers classical music, jazz, world music, drama and arts – recovered from a disappointing performance last quarter to reach 1.91 million listeners every week (up from 1.78m last year and 1.80m last quarter) with a share of 1.2% (up from 0.9% last quarter and 1.1% last year).

Jenny Abramsky, Director, BBC Audio & Music, said: "I'm delighted to see Radio 3 recovering both reach and share – it plays a unique role in shaping the national cultural agenda and is at the intellectual heart of the BBC.

"Radio 4 has followed its Sony Award for Station of the Year with another strong performance and – alongside Radio 5 Live – has illustrated the public's appetite for high-quality speech radio."

The figures – covering the period from 24 March to 22 June 2008 – also show that listening to all BBC Radio has continued to grow year-on-year, while dropping from last quarter's record highs, with a reach of 33.23m (from 33.25m last year and 34.22m last quarter) and a share of 55.5% (from 54.3% last year and 56.8% last quarter).

BBC Radio 1 attracted 10.68 million listeners per week in the quarter – down from 10.87m last year and 11.07m last quarter. Its share – at 10% – has also dropped from last year (10.3%) and last quarter (10.6%).

The Chris Moyles Show has 7.21 million listeners – steady on 7.26m last year and down from a record 7.72m last quarter.

BBC Radio 2 also saw a drop in listeners from last quarter's all-time high, with a weekly reach of 13 million listeners (13.12m last year and 13.63m last quarter). Share at 16% is up on the year (15.6%) but down on the quarter (16.5%).

Wake Up To Wogan has 7.75 million listeners tuning in each week – down on last year's 7.92m and last quarter's record 8.10m. It remains the most popular breakfast show in the country.

BBC Radio 4 has 9.53 million listeners – up on the year (9.48m) and stable on the quarter (9.56m) – and has a share of 12.0%, also up on the year (11.2%) and down a little on the quarter (12.2%).

BBC Radio 5 Live and its digital service BBC 5 Live Sports Extra recorded a combined reach of 6.12 million – up a little on last year's combined total (6.10m) and last quarter (6.09m).

The network was buoyed by 5 Live Sports Extra's contribution of 748,000 listeners to the total.

BBC 6 Music posted its fourth consecutive record reach, with 551,000 listeners – up on both year and quarter.

1Xtra, the BBC Asian Network and BBC 7 all grew their audience year-on-year.

BBC Local and National Radio saw a drop in reach and share, while the BBC World Service remained steady.

BBC Radio Publicity

Notes to Editors