RAJAR Results Q1 2003 – Capital 95.8 FM Feels The Heat In London
RAJAR data for the first quarter of 2003 reveals a mixed picture of London listening, with many of the capital’s premier stations seeing weekly reach decline.
The big story was once again Capital 95.8 FM, which has dominated the headlines recently with speculation that high profile DJ, Chris Tarrant, is set to retire. Despite assertions from Tarrant that he is set to stay at the station to present the recently re-vamped breakfast show (see Good News For Capital As Tarrant Plans To Stay), Capital 95.8 FM saw its weekly reach decline by 10.5% year on year.
Capital Gold London also got off to a less than impressive start in 2003, with its weekly reach slipping year on year to just over the 1 million mark.
Capital’s closest London-based rival, Heart 106.2, benefited from its mix of broadly contemporary music and saw its weekly reach increase to just over 1.8 million. However, Emap’s Magic 105.4, which sticks to chart hits and popular classics, experienced a 14.5% year on year decrease during the same period.
The figures also brought bad news to dance-focused Kiss 100 FM, which saw its weekly reach decline by 9.1%, despite a high profile cross-media campaign to promote its Bam Bam Breakfast Show (see Kiss Beats The Rat Race With Six-Figure Campaign).
On a brighter note, the latest jewel in Chrysalis Radio’s crown, LBC News 1152, experienced a solid year on year increase in weekly reach. Chrysalis acquired the station along with the now relaunched LBC 97.3, from GWR last year for £23.5 million (see Chrysalis Strengthens London Offering With LNR Acquisition).
Chrysalis also received good news from LBC 97.3, which saw its weekly reach increase 4.8% year on year, after relaunching on the FM frequency and introducing a new programming line-up (see Chrysalis Re-Launches LBC On FM Wavelength).
Capital 95.8 FM experienced the sector’s biggest decline in terms of share of listening, which fell by 1.9% points year on year. However, the station continues to lead the field in terms of London listening.
Capital Gold London also recorded a relatively lacklustre performance in the three months to March 2003, with its share of listening declining by 1% point year on year. However, there was some positive news for the Capital Radio, which saw its alternative music brand, XFM, increase its share to 1.7%. The station recently launched an extensive outdoor ad campaign, featuring its star DJ’s Zoe Ball and Christian O’Connell (see Xfm Launches High-Profile Ad Campaign).
Meanwhile, Heart 106.2 experienced another steady increase in terms of share, which rose to 6.2%. The relaunched LBC 97.3 station saw its share increase 0.7% points. However, LBC News 1152 saw its share of listening decline year on year during the first quarter of 2003.
Other key movers include the specialist Choice FM station, which experienced a 0.9% point decline in share of listening. Magic 105.4’s mix of chart music and contemporary classics could not prevent a 0.7% point decline in share and Kiss 100 received bad news, with its weekly reach also slipping year on year.
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