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RAJAR: Sunrise Radio suffers decline locally & nationally

While most of the Asian radio stations suffered in latest UK ratings, Sunrise Radio was significantly down, according to official data from RAJAR for Q1/17.

The first three months of the station saw Sunrise Radio National fall from 461,000 listeners to 362,000 viewers – losing 99,000 listeners over the quarter. Its listening hours increased to 7.4 hours.

Tony Lit, Sunrise Radio MD commented, “The release of Rajar Q1 2017 this morning confirms that Sunrise Radio, The UK’s Biggest Asian Mix remains the UK’s undisputed number 1 commercial Asian radio station. Sunrise London’s weekly reach is greater than the total weekly reach of its London commercial *Asian radio competitors added together, and Sunrise London’s Breakfast Show audience (06:00-09:00) equals that of its nearest London commercial *Asian radio competitor’s total weekly schedule (all shows 24 hours). Both the London and National service continue to make good progress both with increased listening – London a 38% increase & National a 23% increase. These are exciting times and as we’ve announced over the last few days Ameet Chana will be joining the Sunrise Team taking over the Weekend Breakfast Show from June and also we have the long awaited return of Paul Shah to the Drive-time Show, joined by co-host Vallisa.”

The BBC Asian Network, which also slipped in ratings, remained comfortably the UK’s most listened to Asian radio station with 623,000 listeners. It was down slightly from 632,000 listeners. This was the station’s third consecutive fall in a row. BBC Asian Network’s listening hours stood at 5.9 hours.

Locally, Sunrise Radio had the biggest audience in Greater London with 228,000 listeners – down from 234,000 listeners. It listening hours registered 5.7 hours. Lyca Radio could only fetch 92,000 listeners in this quarter. Lyca Dilse Radio – the only Asian station to go up this quarter from 39,000 listeners in Q4/16. Lyca Dilse had further reason to rejoice as it was the only Asian radio station in this quarter to be listened to for the longest – a huge 13.9 hours. Panjab Radio was also down from 92,000 listeners to 57,000 listeners.

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.