The ratings results conducted in October-December 2022 by RAJAR went like this:
#1. BBC Radio 4: 13.7 #2. BBC Radio 2: 11.0 #3. LBC: 7.7 #4. Heart: 4.7 #5. Classic FM: 4.2 #6. Magic: 3.8 #7. BBC Radio 1: 3.7 #8. Capital: 3.5 #9. BBC Radio 5: 3.1 #10. Smooth Radio: 2.3 #11. Greatest Hits Radio: 2.2 #12. BBC Radio 3: 2.0
According to the RAJAR website, the next ratings for the UK & London is due to be released today, looking at the ratings over the March Quarter of 2023.
Looks like one or two missing, like XFM, but I’m guessing they must be lower than #12 in the ratings. The DAB only stations of course would also be lower too, although I understand Virgin Radio and BBC6 pull very decent numbers.
The other thing I find interesting about London is they are fine with 0.4 spacing on FM, with Heart 106.2, GHR 105.8 and Magic 105.4 all just 0.4 apart… Memo to ACMA.
Looking at these ratings again, and also the recent media attention around falling ratings for the ABC…how much would the ABC like to be doing as well as BBC radio!
You’ve effectively got their RN equivalent R4 at numbet one. R2 at number 2 - ABC has no equivalent. Classic FM at No. 5 although this is a commercial station - but it’s still classical music. R1 is No. 7 but there is a huge amount of competition for the youth audience, like Capital, KISS etc. And DAB uptake is much higher…
Yes they’re all on FM but then we get back to the fact that London seems to cope with 0.4 spacing.
Correct you have Heart Dance, Capital Dance, KissTory which have a market share of around 0.9 which is only on Dab and streaming, but included in the total ratings. Lots of completion for the youth market in the UK.
It is widely reported that Liza Tarbuck hates the news bulletin sandwiched in her show, so she’ll use the run-up to get one last laugh in. Given how much she deviates from the (now former) script, it has become a running joke of it’s own.
Couple of interesting points, talk is king in London with BBC R4 taking top spot, and LBC #1 commercial in London. LBC only rates 9th nationally v 3rd in London.
Also looking at Capural fm, yes it has gone national but it strength still is in London.
Kiss did not make the top 12 with a 1.5 share in London and 1.0 nationally.
I think Capital doesn’t have full national FM coverage so that would explain its lower figure nationally. By comparison Hits radio and Heart have more FM coverage.
Same with LBC. I don’t think it’s on FM outside London, just DAB.
Interesting BBC R6 rates so well given it’s DAB only.
Magic is definitely winning the battle with Smooth in London, but isn’t on FM outside London.
BBC R2 is such a powerhouse. It’s proof a station can be hugely successful with a diverse and even ecclectic music playlist that appeals to a broad age range.
The bespoke package features a range of generic elements, crafted around mood-invoking sounds which range from party vibes to more chilled and relaxed feeling themes
We’re delighted to launch Radio 2’s newly-updated station sound to our listeners. Featuring new singers and the wonderful BBC Concert Orchestra, it encapsulates the network’s rich musical heritage and encompasses a range of mood themes for our shows, from upbeat to chilled.
— Robert Gallacher, Commissioning Editor, BBC Pop
Radio 2 - the UK’s most listened to radio station - has unveiled its brand-new station sound package, made by London-based audio production company Wisebuddah. The new package features a live orchestral session recorded at London’s AIR studios with the prestigious BBC Concert Orchestra.
Wisebuddah worked in close collaboration with the network’s Pop Hub Station Sound team to create a package that is not only innovative and memorable, but also uses new singers never heard on a UK network package, all creating a stylistic expression of the station.
The bespoke package features a range of generic elements, crafted around mood-invoking sounds which range from party vibes to more chilled and relaxed feeling themes, in addition to several show specific themes for the station’s daytime output, including the brand-new Vernon Kay show.
Robert Gallacher, Commissioning Editor, BBC Pop, says: “We’re delighted to launch Radio 2’s newly-updated station sound to our listeners. Featuring new singers and the wonderful BBC Concert Orchestra, it encapsulates the network’s rich musical heritage and encompasses a range of mood themes for our shows, from upbeat to chilled.”
If there is a need for one, we’ll create one - but for now there doesnt seem to be much discussion.
I saw a suggestion that the fine is likely to be less than what it would have cost them to operate the AM service in the period between switch off and the date of the fine.
It seems all a bit token - Ofcom can’t be seen to be doing nothing about it, but at the same time they understand the rationale behind it. They don’t seem to be in a rush to reallocate the frequencies either
Just before 10:30pm AEST (1:30pm in the UK) this evening I heard an edited version of “Black Magic” by Little Mix on Capital FM. This version omitted Jesy Nelson’s verse (the lyric starts with “if you’re looking for Mr Right…”) and the second chorus; so immediately after the first chorus it went straight to the breakdown (“all the girls on the block knockin’ at my door…”).
Wonder what the reason for this edited version could be - could it possibly be because Jesy left the group at the end of 2020? That’s one theory I have…
R2 has become my goto music stream at work. It used to be Smooth Brisbane but the music selection is so narrow it gets annoying. R2 has a great selection and is so ecclectic its enjoyable
Agree. The thing I love about R2 is it’s eclectic, adventurous, yet also mainstream at the same time. You still hear mainstream music along with the adventurous stuff. This is something the ABC has not mastered with stations like Double J.
