“Staggering” Increase in UK DAB Listening

All Things Digital
This digital environment

Big Business
Media companies and their world

Brands
Brands and branding, modern and post

The Commonweal
Media associations and institutes

Conflict Zones
Media making a difference

Fit To Print
The Printed Word and the Publishing World

Lingua Franca
Culture and language

Media Rules and Rulers
Media politics

The Numbers
Watching, listening and reading

The Public Service
Public Service Broadcasting

Show Business
Entertainment and entertainers

Sports and Media
Rights, cameras and action

Spots and Space
The Advertising Business

Write On
Journalism with a big J

“Staggering” Increase in UK DAB Listening

Michael Hedges November 28, 2005

Radio listeners are making the digital switch in 2005 according to a special RAJAR survey. Total hours listening increased to all digital platforms – DAB, DTV and internet – increased from a comparable 2004 survey. The number of hours listening to DAB jumped 165%.

DAB proponents hope a tipping point has been reached driving listeners, advertisers and receiver manufactures to the platform. DAB has been available in the UK for a decade. FM listening did not overtake AM (medium wave) until the 1970’s, about 30 years after its launch. The Listening via Platform survey shows a drop in FM/AM listening in the UK to 74.8% of all listening hours from 81.8% in 2004.

“The findings of the latest RAJAR Listening Via Platform Survey make encouraging reading for the digital radio industry in the UK,” said RAJAR managing director Sally de la Bodoyere in a press release accompanying the findings. “While listening via digital, DTV and Internet receivers has been gradually increasing over the past year, listening via DAB has grown by a staggering 165%.”

ftm background

Pushing the Switch Slowly
European radio’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting is moving forward, but very slowly. Despite rich promised benefits, advocates have discovered that neither they nor anybody else can force something new to happen.

RAJAR Surveys UK Industry: Reports Consensus
UK radio broadcasters reported satisfaction with RAJAR, its surveys and the march toward portable measurement.

UK Radio Audience: What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?
The BBC surges with Radio 2 reaching its largest audience ever, commercial audience shares lower.

"What Gets Measured Gets Done"
What and how we measure media is likely to change what media does.

Spring RAJARs: Has BBC Radio Made All The Right Moves?
BBC Radio has now stretched its lead over commercial radio to more than 10% market share, 54.2% for the BBC and 43.8% for commercial radio.

“The results also show a major shift in radio listening from analogue to digital receivers. Indeed this growing shift can also be seen in data reported by RAJAR just over three weeks ago, which revealed that home ownership of DAB sets rose from 4.5% in September 2004 to 10.5% in September 2005. Clearly, this is a trend which is gathering pace as access to digital receivers increases and it is one RAJAR will continue to monitor.”

UK radio broadcasters, including the BBC, continue to add DAB-only channels to multiplexes and receiver manufacturers spice up designs and features for the holiday buying season. With home ownership of DAB receivers rising past 10%, the UK is the clear European leader in DAB adoption.

“Consumers are delighting in the new, unique content available on DAB stations, both commercial and BBC, and this is translating into rapidly growing listening figures,” said digital Radio Development Bureau (DRMB) chief executive Ian Dickens, quoted in the same press release. “The DRDB believes this trend will continue and forecasts DAB digital radio set penetration of 40% of UK households by 2009.”

RAJAR’s Listening Via Platform Survey was conducted in August and September, replicating the 2004 survey. Persons 15 years and older who use any digital platform were surveyed.