Regional radio attracting more listeners

More people are switching off from the State broadcaster and tuning in to local and regional radio stations, new figures showed today.

Figures from the Joint National Listenership Survey showed local and regional stations had increased their market share by 4%, with RTE and Today FM dropping by 1%.

But the State broadcaster holds the top 10 slots for daytime radio and the the survey showed Gerry Ryan hit the high note with listeners as the nation’s favourite voice.

Market share for any regional/local station increased to 48% (+4). RTE Radio One’s market share was 24% (-1) while 2FM and Today FM had market shares of 17% (-1) and 9% (-1) respectively. Market share for Lyric FM remained unchanged at 1%.

The reach figure for any local/regional station increased to 56% (+3), with RTE Radio One, 2FM and Lyric recording listened yesterday figures of 27% (-1), 24% (-2) and 3% respectively.

Today FM’s national reach was 14% down 2%.

Morning Ireland still the number one show in the country according to the annual survey, while Gerry Ryan’s topical taste earned him the title of the country’s favourite voice with an audience of 392,000, up 11,000.

The JNLR report also revealed radio listenership across the country was up 1%, to 87% of the population.

The survey showed all RTE Radio 1 programmes between 12 noon and 8pm showed an increase in listenership figures.

Five-Seven Live hit an all-time high of 224,000 listeners, with phone-in show Liveline up from 334,000 to 353,000 listeners.

Ian Dempsey topped the poll on Today FM’s programme list with 215,00 listeners, but the station has failed to dent the market share of RTE.

Highland Radio was the number one radio station with and Mid West and North West radio close behind.