RAJAR: BBC Asian Network slides but holds on to No.1

The BBC Asian Network stayed firm as the UK’s most listened to Asian radio station in latest radio listening figures published today for Q3/19 by RAJAR.

The BBC Asian Network reported a weekly reach of 602,000 listeners in the period ending September 2019 – down slightly from 614,000 listeners in Q2/19 (2.0% down quarter-on-quarter). Hours listened to was also down from 6.4 to 3.7. Its share remained the same in both quarters at 0.2%. Year-on-year, the BBC Asian Network was down by 4.6% – last year it registered a reach of 631,000 listeners during the same period.

A BBC spokesperson told BizAsiaLive.com, “We’re delighted that BBC Asian Network remains the UK’s most listened to Asian radio station with over 600,000 listeners tuning in every week and a further 1.4 million engaging with our content across social media and YouTube. The station provides a platform for exciting new music and entertainment alongside impactful news and current affairs programming that continue to perform well for our younger audiences.”

National Asian commercial station, Sunrise Radio increased its audience from 372,000 listeners in Q2/19 to 383,000 listeners in Q3/19 (3.0% up quarter-on-quarter). Its listening hours were also up 3.8 to 3.0 hours this quarter. Its share rose from 0.1% to 0.2%. Year-on-year, Sunrise Radio nationally has seen its audience jump by 21.6%. This time last year, Sunrise Radio National was sitting with an audience of 315,000 listeners.

Tony Lit, MBE & Managing Director Sunrise Radio, comments, “With the release of Rajar Q3 2019 this morning I’m pleased to report that Sunrise Radio now in its 30th year of broadcasting is once again confirmed as the unrivalled market leader in commercial Asian radio, consecutively since its launch in 1989. Sunrise Radio’s national service has enjoyed a year on year weekly audience growth of over 20% and is also up on Q2 2019. The London service has also enjoyed a year on year weekly audience growth, of over 37% and is also up on Q2 2019. In London Sunrise Radio is the leading Asian radio station and its weekly reach is over two times the size of its nearest commercial Asian radio competitor. This is great news as we approach our big landmark 30th birthday next month.

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, ‘Sunrise Radio National’ are coming in thick and fast.”

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RAJAR: Sunrise Radio continues to dominate London market