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RAJAR Results: BBC A Network crosses half a million

On the back of immense media coverage over its future, a defiant BBC Asian Network has fought back by touching a three-year high weekly reach during Q1/11.

A resurgent BBC Asian Network has added 23,000 new listeners between January and April this year, makong it officially the most listened to Asian radio station in the UK. It’s audience now stands at 500,000, the second highest reach for the station in nearly six years. Further good news for the station is that this is the fourth consecutive quarter of growth.

Andy Parfitt, Controller, BBC Asian Network, said, ���We’ve been on a long journey of change, coupled with a high degree of uncertainty around the future – so I’m delighted that despite these challenges our team has performed brilliantly, building listeners for the fourth consecutive quarter and achieving the highest figures for three years.�۝

Overview of BBC Asian Network
This time last year: 357,000
As it stands now: 500,000
Difference: + 143,000

The other national radio station, Sunrise Radio finally lost it’s hold as the market leader in this quarter. It recorded a weekly reach of 469,000, down slightly from 481,000 in the previous quarter. It’s the first time in years the BBC Asian Network has toppled the long running commercial station. However, year-on-year data shows an additional 35,000 new listeners tuning in.

Overview of Sunrise Radio National
This time last year: 444,000
As it stands now: 469,000
Difference: + 35,000

Local
Sunrise Radio local output for the Greater London audience also witnessed a slight tumble. The hugely popular station lost 35,000 listeners in the quarter in question, compared to the quarter prior. Sunrise Radio London now stands with a weekly reach of 336,000.

Overview of Sunrise Radio London
This time last year: 323,000
As it stands now: 336,000
Difference: + 13,000

Adult contemporary music and talk station, Kismat Radio has seen a slight knock both in terms of quarterly and yearly. Kismat Radio now boasts an audience of 108,000, a decline from the 164,000 registered in the previous quarter. Year-on-year, Kismat Radio has fallen too, losing 23,000 listeners.

Overview of Kismat Radio
This time last year: 131,000
As it stands now: 108,000
Difference: – 23,000

The Lit Corporation’s youth station, Buzz Asia, which had a slow start again had a poor quarter. After gaining slight in the previous quarter, Buzz Asia has registered yet another drop. It’s weekly reach was down from 113,000 to 111,000 this quarter. However, some reprieve for the troubled station, it was up 23,000 from the same period last year.

Overview of Buzz Asia
This time last year: 134,000
As it stands now: 111,000
Difference: + 23,000

Note, Panjab Radio discontinued its RAJAR reporting from this quarter.

Other UK based Asian radio stations such as Radio XL in Birmingham, Sabras Radio in Leicester and Asian Sound in Manchester do not subscribe to RAJAR.