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Radio listening reaches record high thanks to digital technology
Last updated at 23:52pm on 01.02.07Radio listening has reached a record high, with more than 45 million people tuning in each week, according to new figures.
It is the highest figure since industry body Rajar began keeping track of the nation's listening habits in 1992.
The rise is being attributed to growing numbers of people tuning in via the internet, digital television or their mobile phones. Some 7.8 per cent of people aged 15 and above listen to the radio via their mobiles, according to Rajar research conducted in the last three months of 2006.
The figure is 24 per cent up on the same period of 2005.
A quarter of all 15- to 24-year-olds said they listened to the radio in this way.
Listening via the internet was up 10 per cent and via digital television up 9 per cent.
Internet podcasts are also increasingly popular. There are now 2.1 million people (17 per cent of MP3 player owners) who download and listen to podcasts - a rise of 15 per cent on the previous three months.
Jenny Abramsky, the BBC's director of audio and music, said: "It's great to see radio listening at a record high, with more than 45 million people tuning in every week.
"It proves that radio still plays an incredibly important part in people's lives and that, despite the range of new media available, listeners continue to value the close relationship they have with radio."
Reader views (6)
TV is so bad that progressive broadcasting on radio is bound to succeed.
- R J, UK
The popularity of Podcasting will cause listening figures to soar if the Broadasters can agree rights and copyrighting agreements which would allow music and drama to be readily available for download.
It's not the BBC's or other Broadcast organisations fault that this is currently not the case. It is purely the attitude of PRS, Rights owners, and even MCPS...
- William Grierson, Kimpton, UK
I think radio is a great medium in this country especially the BBC Channels. They do actually fulfill the Reithian remit to inform, educate and entertain.
- Pete, Lewisham
This is great news! Won't it be wonderful when everyone is listening to broadcasts via mobile phones, the internet, or digital TV! I don't know why it's so great, just wanted to get on the bandwagon. Gee, do you think we might get more variety of entertainment or more diverse political views? Maybe we could even get more versions of the truth! Do you think?
- Carol, Pensacola, Florida
Radio can get into areas where tv really can't such as cars (well they can but that's far more distracting). There's also far more on radio than tv and the move to digital is going acrosss the globe. I can speak to this for a bit as I bought a HD radio and it works quite well. Adding into this podcasts are quite easy to listen to and that puts content nearly anywhere...
- Matt, Boston, MA
Golden age? If radio does not inform and present honest and alternative news then what good is it? It's just another expensive toy to disuade you from reality.
- John P. Smith, USA
