BBC Radio benefits from digital listening

BBC Radio has benefited from increased listening via digital platforms, according to data released today by Rajar (Radio Joint Audience Research Ltd). The figures – covering the period from 25 June 2007 to 16 September 2007 – show BBC Radio has increased reach and share in the last year, with 8.5 million people – 17% of the UK population – listening to BBC stations digitally.

Jenny Abramsky, Director BBC Audio & Music, said: "The continued growth of digital radio is once again the highlight of the quarter. It is pleasing to see digital listening – from DAB to podcasting – ensuring radio remains as popular and relevant as ever."

BBC Radio's reach is 32.89 million, compared to 32.66m last year and 33.25m last quarter, while share of listening is 54.4%, against 54.3% last year and quarter.

BBC Radio 1's reach is 10.58 million – the same as last year and slightly down from 10.87m last quarter. The network's share (10.6%) is up on both year (9.8%) and quarter (10.3%).

BBC Radio 2 – the country's most popular station – added a quarter of a million listeners on the year to reach 13.01m people (last year 12.74m, last quarter 13.12m). Share, at 15.8%, is up on the year (15.5%) and the quarter (15.6%).

BBC Radio 3's reach is 1.94 million – up on last quarter (1.78m) but down on last year (2.03m). Share (1.2%) is also up on the quarter (1.1%) but down on the year (1.3%).

BBC Radio 4 has 9.26 million listeners – down on the year (9.47m) and the quarter (9.48m). The station has a share of 11.2% – the same as last quarter but down on the year (11.8%).

BBC Radio 5 Live (which records a combined reach with its digital service 5 Live Sports Extra) 5.65 million – down from 5.87m last year and 6.10m last quarter. Share is 4.4%, the same as last year but marginally down from 4.5% last quarter.

BBC Local and National Radio has a reach of 9.60 million (9.89m last quarter and 9.73m last year) and share of 9.4% (9.8% last quarter and last year).

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra has 730,000 listeners, up from 649,000 last year but down from last quarter's record 866,000. Its share is 0.2% – the same as last year but down from 0.3% last quarter.

BBC 6 Music has a record reach of 485,000 – up from last year's 400,000 and steady on last quarter's 471,000 – while share is 0.2%, from 0.2% last year and 0.3% last quarter.

BBC 7 has a reach of 795,000 (697,000 last year and 738,000 last quarter), while share is 0.4% – up on last year (0.3%) and the same as last quarter.

1Xtra BBC has 421,000 listeners – up on the year (394,000) and slightly down on last quarter's record (473,000). Its share (0.2%) is level with both year and quarter.

BBC World Service has 1.30 million listeners – from 1.31m last quarter and 1.35m last year. Share is 0.7%, level with last quarter but slightly down on the year (0.8%).

BBC Asian Network has 476,000 listeners – slightly up on last quarter's 455,000 and steady on last year's 481,000 – while share, at 0.3%, is up on last year (0.2%) and the same as last quarter.