Radio outperforms traditional media as ad revenue climbs in 2025
Radio advertising grew again in 2025, even as most traditional media spend remained flat or declined, according to Ofcom’s latest ‘Media Nations’ report.
The figures show UK radio advertising revenue rising by around 1% year‑on‑year, taking the sector to roughly £747 million. In contrast, television advertising slipped by about 1% to just over £5.2 billion, while newspapers and magazines saw a steeper fall of around 5%.
Ofcom notes that radio has proved more resilient than other traditional media, in part because it is less exposed to the volatility created by major sporting events and wider economic uncertainty. The sector’s mix of live listening, digital streams and in‑car audiences has helped maintain advertiser confidence at a time when budgets are under pressure.
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For broadcasters and sales houses, the data positions radio as one of the few legacy media channels still delivering incremental growth, reinforcing its role as a stable component in the wider audio and AV planning mix.
