The BBC Asian Network remained the UK’s most listened to Asian radio station, according to official radio listening figures published today by RAJAR.
The data for Q1/19 (period ending 31st March 2019), the BBC Asian Network delivered a reach of 536,000 listeners – up slightly from 527,000 listeners in Q4/18. Its listening hours were down from 5.3 hours to 4.3 hours. Its share also slipped from 0.3% to 0.2%. The BBC Asian Network was up quarter-on-quarter by 1.7%, while year-on-year, the station was down by 14.6%. This time last year, the station’s audience was at 628,000 listeners.
A BBC spokesperson told BizAsiaLive.com, “It’s great to see an increase in weekly listeners for the Asian Network as we continue our drive to reach younger audiences, with an increase in 15-24s on the quarter and year. Over half a million listeners are tuning in to the station every week and a further 1.1 million engaging with our content across social media and YouTube.”
Sunrise Radio National also added listeners quarter-on-quarter, up from 303,000 listeners to 338,000 listeners in this quarter. The station’s listening hours were slightly down from 4.6 hours to 4.2 hours. However, its share stayed unchanged at 0.1%.
Sunrise Radio National’s year-on-year figures were down by 6.1%. This time last year, the station delivered a reach of 360,000 listeners.
Tony Lit, MBE & Managing Director Sunrise Radio, said, “As we approach our big landmark 30th birthday I’m pleased to see our audience is once again growing steadily. We continue our dominance in the Asian commercial radio market as the number one radio channel and have achieved this consistently over the past 30 years. This is an unparalleled achievement in the entire UK Radio Industry. In the London market alone Sunrise has approximately double the size of the audience of its nearest Asian commercial radio competitor.
Our audience continues to grow in London and Nationally on DAB, and we’re also continuing to see a significant growth in our audience of those listening live on Sunriseradio.com and downloads of our free App are coming in thick and fast.”
Panjab Radio lost listeners this quarter – down from 187,000 listeners to 163,000 listeners this quarter. Its listening hours were also down from 3.2 hours to 2.3 hours – a decline of 12.8%.
Regional
Sunrise Radio remained the leading Asian commercial station in Greater London. It had twice the audience of rival, Lyca Radio. Sunrise Radio’s reach stood at 173,000 listeners – up from 165,000 listeners in the previous quarter. Its listening hours were down from 4.7 hours in Q4/18 to 4.3 hours in Q1/19. Its share was unchanged at 0.4%.
Lyca Radio’s audience was also up from 83,000 listeners in Q4/18 to 88,000 listeners in Q1/19. Its listening hours were down from 4.6 hours to 4.3 hours. Its share was static at 0.2%.
Sister station, Dilse Radio delivered a reach of 56,000 listeners – up from 43,000 listeners – the biggest jump for a London Asian radio station this quarter. Its listening hours were also up from 6.6 hours to 7.0, while its share climbed from 0.1% to 0.2%.
Other UK based Asian radio stations such as Radio XL in Birmingham, Sabras Radio in Leicester, Asian Sound in Manchester, Sunrise Radio in Yorkshire and other digital and community Asian radio stations do not subscribe to RAJAR.
