Radio numbers

There's a good set of figures for BBC Radio in the latest RAJAR report, covering the last three months of 2024.  There are a number of upward ticks, year on year, perhaps slightly helped by population adjustment made by the researchers earlier in 2024 - adults over 15 are now estimated at 57.6m, up by 1.3m. 

All BBC Network Radio has found 365,000 new listeners, year on year. BBC Local Radio in England has only lost 11,000 in the same period. Sam Jackson, at Radio 3, has added 10% reach, year on year, despite creating the side temptation of Radio 3 Unwind halfway through the three months. The BBC hasn't declared figures for this groovy chill service.  Overall, BBC reach to listeners aged 15-44 is up 4.8% over the year - close to a triumph, surely. 

The BBC Asian Network, moving back to Birmingham and taking less news, is up nearly 30% in reach, to a more respectable 580k. Not far off Times Radio, now reaching 604k, despite losing Matt Chorley to Radio 5Live. Radio 5Live has added 100k year on year. 

Radio Scotland has dropped 55k listeners, to 745k, putting it level with Clyde 1 serving Glasgow and the West of Scotland. Radio Wales is up 15%, Radio Cymru up 26% and Radio Ulster down 10%.