THE latest radio listening figures have revealed that BBC Radio Scotland has enjoyed another increase.
According to auditing authority, RAJAR, the station saw its ‘reach’ increase by 6.2 per cent from the final quarter three months of 2014 to the final three months of last year.
In other words, an average reach of 888,000 increased over the 12 months to an average 943,000.
Between Q3 2014 and Q3 2015, the station had seen its reach increase by nine per cent.
‘Reach’ is defined as an adult, aged at least 15, having tuned into a station for at least five minutes during an average week.
BBC Radio Scotland head, Jeff Zycinski, is quoted in a statement issued by the Corporation, as saying: “It’s been a good news week for BBC Radio Scotland. The publication of these figures has coincided with a fine finale to our Celtic Connections coverage and the presentation of two awards for our radio drama productions.
“BBC Radio Scotland has seen some of its best fourth quarter figures in three years and it’s clear that our new schedule of programmes is persuading listeners to spend more time with us.
“Given the number of radio stations and choices available, that’s not something we take for granted. We’re proud to offer a diverse and distinctive range of content which includes news, debate, sport, live music and comedy.”
The reach figures in full are as follows, for Q4 2014-Q4 2015 (in brackets Q3 2014-Q3 2015)
BBC Scotland up 6.2 per cent (up nine per cent)
Radio Borders down 1.8 per cent (down 1.8 per cent)
Capital Scotland up 14.5 per cent (up 7.8 per cent)
Central FM up 13 per cent (up 26.7 per cent)
Clyde 1 up 21.9 per cent (up 16.1 per cent)
Clyde 2 up 22.5 per cent (up 16.7 per cent)
Forth One up 6.3 per cent (up 7.3 per cent)
Forth 2 up 13.6 per cent (up 35.8 per cent)
Heart Scotland (formerly Real Radio Scotland) down 13.6 per cent (down 3.1 per cent)
Kingdom FM up 18.2 per cent (up 15.5 per cent)
Moray Firth Radio up 3.4 per cent (down 0.8 per cent)
Northsound 1 up 9.3 per cent (up 9.9 per cent)
Northsound 2 down 19.5 per cent (down 10.3 per cent)
Original 106 down 5.9 per cent (up 1.2 per cent)
Smooth Radio Glasgow up 16.7 per cent (up 15.8 per cent)
Tay FM down 7.3 per cent (down 2.6 per cent)
Tay 2 (formerly Tay AM) down 32.4 per cent (down 32.5 per cent)
West Sound down 4.3 per cent (up 3.3 per cent)
There were no figures for the relatively-recently launched RockSport (previously known as Eklipse Sports Radio) which was featured by RAJAR during its last reporting cycle, with a Q2 2015 average reach of 7,000.
Nor are there figures for the recently-launched third stations by Clyde, Forth and Tay.
Source: RAJAR, February 4 2016.
