RTÉ listenership on the rise despite controversies and departures 

Oliver Callan's morning show on RTÉ 1 has 336,000 listeners daily. Picture: Colin Keegan/ Collins 

More people are tuning in to RTÉ radio despite recent controversies and funding issues at the public service broadcaster.

Today with Claire Byrne now has 344,000 listeners each week day, up 3,000 book on book. Picture: Andres Poveda

The latest JNLR listenership figures show 31,000 additional listeners are tuning into RTÉ Radio 1 across the week, weekly listenership to 2FM has increased by 94,000, and Lyric FM has an additional 37,000 listeners compared to this time last year.

RTÉ broadcasts 17 of the top 20 radio programmes in Ireland, with the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk, and Dave Moore and Ian Dempsey on Today FM, presenting the only three non-RTÉ shows in the top 20.

While in Cork, RedFM’s Breakfast with KC is the city’s biggest morning show, with 48,000 listeners, up 1,000 book on book, while Neil Prendeville has retained his title as Leeside’s king of talk radio with 75,000 listeners, down 1,000 book on book.

Nationally,  Morning Ireland remains the country’s most listened-to radio programme, with 486,000 listeners, up 46,000 year on year.

Countrywide has gained 68,000 listeners on Saturday mornings, with Oliver Callan presenting Ireland’s third most listened-to weekday programme, with 336,000 listeners daily, up 6,000 book on book.

Today with Claire Byrne now has 344,000 listeners each week day, up 3,000 book on book. Brendan O’Connor on Saturday has 340,000 listeners, up 2,000 year on year, with 346,000 listeners tuning in to his Sunday show, the second most listened-to programme in the country, up 23,000 year on year.

The News at One has 295,000 listeners, Liveline with Joe Duffy has a listenership of 302,000, up 1,000 book on book, with Ray D'Arcy attracting 191,000 listeners to his afternoon show, up 10,000 book on book.

Sunday Miscellany has 315,000 listeners, Sunday with Miriam has 309,000 listeners and the John Creedon Show has 56,000 listeners, up 4,000 book on book.

Despite a raft of high-profile departures from 2FM in recent months, it is up 94,000 listeners year on year.

2FM Breakfast has 149,000 listeners, up 6,000 book on book, Laura Fox has added 6,000 listeners to her 9-12pm show, which now has 141,000 listeners, Tracy Clifford has 128,000 listeners, up 7,000, with 2FM Drive recording a 6,000 book-on-book increase to 157,000 listeners.

Over on Lyric, Marty Whelan’s morning show has 67,000 listeners, up 13,000, Aedín Gormley's Movies and Musicals on Saturday afternoons has 67,000 listeners, up 9,000, Simon Delaney on Sunday afternoons has 60,000 listeners, and The Hamilton Scores with George Hamilton has 46,000 listeners, up 2,000 on Saturdays and up 8,000 to 52,000 listeners on Sundays.

RTÉ director -general Kevin Bakhurst said the figures showed public service media continued to play a central role in Irish life.

“RTÉ Radio 1 is growing, and remains the only station with a weekly reach of over one million listeners, with gains of 31,000 listeners year-on-year,” he said.

“RTÉ 2FM is growing, with a weekly reach increase of 94,000 year-on-year.

Simon Delaney attracts 60,000 listeners to his Sunday afternoon show on Lyric FM.

“And RTÉ Lyric FM is growing, increasing by 37,000 listeners year-on-year. I'm proud that RTÉ's range of programmes, including speech and trusted news and information, entertainment and music, continue to engage and connect audiences across Ireland.” 

In the independent sector, Today FM has 988,000 listeners a week, over 50,000 more than this time last year, with big increases for its weekend shows with Alison Curtis, KC and Dec Pierce.

Ian Dempsey has 210,000 listeners, down 6,000 book on book, Dave Moore in the 9-12pm slot has 223,000 listeners, with Louise Cantillon down 8,000 to 131,000. Ray Foley is down 6,000 to 155,000 listeners, and The Last Word with Matt Cooper is down 10,000 book on book to 171,000.

But Dec Pierce added 53,000 listeners to his Saturday Block Rockin’ Beats Show and Keith Cunningham (KC), who joined the station this year, has added 11,000 listeners, book on book, to the Saturday 2-6pm show which now has an audience of 141,000 listeners.

Wireless Ireland, which owns Cork’s 96FM and C103FM, said C103 now has 123,000 adults listening each week — an increase in weekly listenership of 10% year on year — with 96FM delivering 158,000 weekly listeners.