DAB Listening Increases

The hours for radio listening via digital radio receivers (DAB) has overtaken the combined listening hours via digital television (DTV) and the Internet for the first time.

Total listening hours via digital radio receivers (DAB) has grown by 165% according to RAJAR's latest 'Listening via Platforms' survey results undertaken during August and September this year.

Listening hours via the Internet has increased by 84%, DTV has risen by 42% and DAB overtakes with 39% more listening hours than both combined. DAB also records a 95% increase in reach compared to the Internet with 30% and DTV with a 28% increase.

Managing Director of RAJAR, Sally de la Bedoyere said:
"The findings of the latest RAJAR Listening via Platform Survey make encouraging reading for the digital radio industry in the UK...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%."

In addition, the number of listeners who claim to own a DAB receiver or listen to the radio via DTV or the Internet has increased by 25% compared to the same survey taken a year ago.

Ian Dickens, chief executive of DRDB said:
"RAJAR's Platform Survey findings very much match the DRDB's own research which shows sales of DAB digital radios more than doubling year-on-year. 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."

RAJAR announced the survey results on the 21st November 2005 and it was the second 'Listening via Platform' survey to be undertaken by RAJAR since 2004.

At present there is no Christian radio presence on the UK DAB networks, partly because of the restrictive UK licencing system which existed when the main networks were opened.