The Absolute Radio Digital Decade Strategy Sees Record Audiences
Record reach for Absolute Radio’s digital stations (not including Absolute Radio), with 2.2 million listeners, up (+3%) Qtr on Qtr and up (+22%) Yr on Yr.
Absolute 80s, Absolute Radio 90s and Absolute Radio 60s all post individual records: Absolute 80s has 1.2 million listeners (+35.1% Yr on Yr), Absolute Radio 90s has 522,000 (+20.0% Yr on Yr), and Absolute Radio 60s has 203,000 (+7.4% Yr on Yr).
o The entire Network, including the Absolute Radio station, has recorded another long- term audience increase with an additional 445,000 listeners taking it to 3.4 million listeners (+15.1% Yr on Yr). The Absolute Radio station is also up 93,000 listeners (+6.0% Yr on Yr) taking it to an overall reach of 1.6 million.
o Absolute Radio’s internet listening has significantly increased, jumping from 9.0% to 13.6% as more listeners take advantage of the more music and fewer ads offered by the station’s pioneering targeted-ads funded InStream product.
o The Absolute Radio Network continues to lead the way in overall digital listening with over three quarters of its listening (76.0%) being done via a digital platform, compared to an industry average of 35.6%.
The Absolute Radio Network has set a new record - posting the best ever reach for the station’s digital decade strategy. The combined reach for the digital stations, (the brand not including Absolute Radio), is now a significant audience of 2.2 million listeners, up (+3%) on the Qtr, and (+22%) Yr on Yr.
Looking more closely at this, Absolute 80s, Absolute Radio 90s and Absolute Radio 60s all posted record figures for their individual station performances. The UK’s number 1 digital commercial station Absolute 80s now boasts 1.2 million listeners, up (+35.1%) Yr on Yr and (+3.2%) Qtr on Qtr. Absolute Radio 90s how has a very healthy 522,000 listeners, up (+20.0%) Yr on Yr and (+2.6%) Qtr on Qtr and Absolute Radio 60s now has 203,000, up (+7.4%) Yr on Yr and (+20.8%) Qtr on Qtr.
The Absolute Radio station is up 93,000 listeners Yr on Yr (+6.0%) taking it to an overall reach of 1.6 million. The Network (including the Absolute Radio station) has also recorded another steady, long- term audience increase with an additional 445,000 listeners every week. This increases the brand to 3.4 million listeners, up (+15.1%) Yr on Yr. This dips (-10.0%) on the Qtr, after three consecutive quarters of strong growth previously.
The Network has also achieved long-term growth in listening hours, increasing to 25.2m Yr on Yr, an increase of (+31.7%) – more good news for the station’s commercial partners of which 90% buy across the network.
The Absolute Radio Network continues to lead the way in overall digital listening with over three quarters of all listening (+76%) listening via a digital platform. The brand’s internet listening has also significantly increased, jumping from 9.0% to 13.6% as more listeners take advantage of more music and fewer ads offered by the station’s pioneering targeted, InStream product.
Absolute Radio Content Director, Tony Moorey commented, “More people than ever before are tuning into Absolute Radio’s digital stations and it’s pleasing to see the sheer scale of the audience after 5 years – a massive 2.2 million listeners. We are also seeing huge jumps in internet listening, with an increase of 4.6% this quarter alone. We are in solid shape ahead of a Government announcement on switchover later this year.”
Source: RAJAR / IPOs - MORI / RSMB, period ending September 2013, all stations and groups results are reported on their specified reporting period and TSA.
-Ends –
Notes to Editors:
About Absolute Radio Absolute Radio is a national, innovative entertainment and music brand, developing groundbreaking digital innovations and broadcasting award-winning programming, and creating and publishing original and on-demand content across multiple platforms from One Golden Square.
Absolute Radio is committed to real music, comedy and football, and leads the industry as a digital innovator developing applications for the web and new and emerging platforms, including mobile, and next-generation Digital Radio.
Absolute Radio also runs a network of digital stations: Absolute Radio 60s, Absolute Radio 70s, Absolute 80s, Absolute Radio 90s, Absolute Radio 00s, Absolute Classic Rock and Absolute Radio.
For Further Press Information, please contact:
Cat Macdonald – Absolute Radio Press Office T: 0207 432 3317 M: 07932 746363
Winner of five Sony Radio Academy Awards 2013 Winner of three Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards 2013 Best Digital Radio Channel, The Freesat Awards 2013