Digital listening up but DAB growth flattens

Digital radio’s share of total radio listening increased slightly over the three months to September, according to the latest RAJAR figures.

Listening via DAB, internet, mobiles and digital television grew by 0.2 percentage points in the quarter to 24.8% of all radio listening.

The total number of people listening increased to 20.4 million, up from 17.4 million over the same period in 2009.

Total hours of digital listening per week increased to 262 million hours, up 22.8% from 213 million hours in 2009.

Though remaining the most popular digital platform, the number of hours listeners tuned in via DAB radio sets did not increase from the 162 million hours registered in the second quarter, with its share dropping by 0.5 percentage point to 15.3%.

DAB’s weekly reach was up slightly with a 0.3 point rise to 23.8%.

Listening via digital television grew its share by 0.3 percentage points over the quarter, bringing its total listening hours to 47 million per week, with a weekly reach of 13.5%, up 2.2 points on September 2009.

Internet listening declined slightly in terms of share, dropping 0.1 percentage points, but held its total listening at 30 million hours per week, an increase of 35.2% year on year from 22 million.

Internet radio also increased its weekly reach by 0.3 percentage points to 8.5%.

RAJAR reported radio listening via mobile phone had increased by 2.3% quarter on quarter with 12.8% of those aged over 15 claiming to have listened via the platform.

In the 15-24 year old group, 30.7% claim to have listened to the radio in this way, and 14.2% say they listen at least once a week, while 2.3%say they listen every day.

In the 25+ demographic, 9.4% of adults claim to listen to the radio via their mobile phone.

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