More are moving the dial to Kenny on Newstalk
Figures for Kenny’s morning slot increased by 20,000 to an average listenership of 134,000 between the 12 months to the end of March and the 12 months to the end of June. While comparable figures for Sean O’Rourke, who took over Kenny’s slot on RTÉ Radio 1, show he still has more than twice as many listeners, that 307,000 figure is down 5,000 in three months.
It is down from 327,000 average listenership for the same morning slot on RTÉ 1 across 2013, but a truer picture of the head-to-head may not emerge until the full year after Kenny’s defection in September.
However, with 1,838,000 (51%) adults tuning in every week — an increase of 9,000 since the last quarter — RTÉ stations remain the top choice for radio listeners.
Commenting on the latest figures, Jim Jennings, managing director of RTÉ Radio said: “Given some major campaigns by key competitors, it is a significant achievement that RTÉ Radio 1 listenership remains solid at 24% on weekdays. Meanwhile, it was a very strong book for lyric fm, with gains across daytime schedule and an increase in market share.”
In the battle for Cork listeners, following Neil Prendeville’s surprise move to RedFM earlier this year, his old employer Cork’s 96fm reported a drop from 110,000 to 91,000 listeners for his old Opinion Line slot once filled by the controversial talk show host. But the figures compare average audience in the year to the end of June and to the end of March, and Prendeville only began his new slot on March 31.
96fm chief executive Kieran McGeary said some listeners may have sampled his new programme, but many who were not fans of his will have moved to his replacement PJ Coogan in the Opinion Line.
RedFM reported an increase from 19,000 to 35,000 in daily listeners on the 10am to noon slot (Prendeville airs from 9am to 12pm) between the year to end of March and 12 months to end of June. Chief executive Diarmuid O’Leary said he was confident a jump in daily listeners in the six months to the end of June to 101,000 — up 32,000 or nearly 50% on the half-year to end-of-March — was predominantly due to changes to their breakfast show and recruiting Neil Prendeville.
Although Morning Ireland on RTÉ 1 remains the number one radio programme in Ireland with 438,000 listeners each weekday, that represents a fall of 6,000. Newstalk said its 147,000 listeners for the Breakfast Show, hosted by Ivan Yates and Chris Donoghue, is a 27,000 increase year-on-year.
RTÉ 1’s Marian Finucane Show on Sunday increased 21,000 listeners to 349,000 year-on-year, while Drivetime listenership is up 1,000 to 242,000 over the last quarter.
Other Newstalk shows with boosted 12-month figures since the last quarterly data in May include Off the Ball with Ger Gilroy and team (up 5,000 to 46,000), and Lunchtime with Jonathan Healy which gained 2,000 listeners to 72,000.
The John Creedon Show also had a rise in listenership rose by 3,000 since the last quarter and by 5,000 year on year. Other Radio 1 increases include: l Sunday Sport up 33,000 listener to 179,000 year on year. l Saturday Sport up 32,000 to 189,000 y-o-y. lRisin’ Time up 5,000 y-o-y.
Today FM attracted an extra 16,000 listeners on the last quarter.
Ian Dempsey now enjoys an audience of 196,000 in the mornings, 85,000 listeners ahead of 2FM’s Breakfast Republic and 28,000 listeners up compared to this time last year, while Ryan Tubridy saw his listenership fall by 4,000 since April.
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