RTL Broadens Lead Médiamétrie Audience Survey, Radio France Channels Continue to Slide

Michael Hedges January 19, 2005

The leading French national networks continued to lead while mid-pack stations swapped ranking in the recently released Médiamétrie survey of November/December 2004 French radio listening.

Market share leader RTL scored 12.2%, increasing its lead over 2nd place France Inter. The Radio France general interest channel fell to 8.9% from 9.4% in the same period in 2003. In total, the channels of Radio France (France Inter, France Info, France Musiques, France Culture, France Bleu, FIP, Le Mouv’, Hector and Elisa) fell to market share of 21.1% from 22.8% in 2003.

Groupement Les Independents, a sales association of 105 non-national stations, increased its combined market share to 10% of the national audience, up from 8.3% in 2003.

The late autumn survey period is often good to Europe 1, the general interest station owned by Lagardere. Scoring an 8.0%, the station increased market share over both the April/June and September/October 2004 survey periods, but lower than the 8.4% market share in November/December 2003.

NRJ remains the top rated music station with a 7.6% market share, increasing from 6.9% one year on. NRJ Groupe owned Nostalgie also increased to 5.9% from 5.4%. France Blue, which competes with Nostalgie for 45+ audience, fell to 5.4% from 6.0% in 2003. Cherie FM, also part of NRJ Groupe, fell to 3.8% from 4.1%.

Lagardere’s Europe 2 continues its period of re-adjustment, falling in market share to 3.1% from 3.8% in November/December 2003. The station added the well-known personality and former Fun Radio DJ Arthur to its cast at the end of November.

Fun Radio, which fired Arthur amidst an angry publicity campaign, fell, again, to 3.1% from 3.5% in 2003.

RFM continues its turn-around from 2003, increasing to 3.7%

One year ago Skyrock looked to be within striking distance of NRJ for the youth audience. Scoring a 5.2% in 2003, the station fell to 4.5%.

RMC Info hasn’t quite made the top 10. Yet. The news and sports station increased market share to 3.2% from 2.5% in 2003.

The November-December Médiamétrie 75,000+ national radio survey of persons 13 years of age and older was released Friday, 14 January. Interviewing was conducted between November 1st and December 26, the day of the Asian earthquake and tsunami.