RAJAR Results Q2 2003: Capital’s Dominance Dips As London Competition Grows
RAJAR listening figures for the second quarter of 2003 reveal a rather lacklustre period Capital 95.8 FM, which saw its weekly reach decline by 4.9% year on year, despite a high profile ad campaign and a re-vamp of its flagship breakfast show (see Capital Lures New Listeners With Major Ad Campaign)
The station has also suffered from continued speculation over the future of its star presenter, Chris Tarrant, whose one year contract comes up for renewal in November. Reports suggest Capital has approached BBC Radio 2 DJ, Jonathan Ross, as a possible replacement for Tarrant.
In an attempt to stem the decline at its key London station, which still remains the clear sector leader in term of weekly reach, Capital recently restructured its senior management team and has put Keith Pringle in charge of programming (see Capital Shakes Up Management To Win Back Listeners).
Period on period analysis paints a more positive picture for Capital 95.8 FM, with weekly reach increasing by 8.7%, indicating that recent changes in programming, music policy and presenter line-up are paying off for the station.
Capital Gold London also experienced a less than impressive three months to June despite its continued adherence to the well-worn formula of classic hits and mainstream DJs.
However, there was positive news for Capital in the form of alternative music station Xfm, which continued to increase its presence in the lucrative London market. The station, which recently launched a high profile outdoor ad campaign (see Xfm Launches High-Profile Ad Campaign), experienced a solid increase in weekly reach.
Elsewhere in the sector there was good news for established chart-based stations and Chrysalis Radio’s Heart 106.2 continued to build its audience. Emap’s mainstream Magic 105.4 also gained popularity in the London market.
RAJAR results for the second quarter of 2003 brought good news to speech-based radio stations, with the BBC’s London 94.9 experiencing a 77.3% year on year surge in weekly reach and LBC News 1152 also gained ground on its rivals.
Sunrise Radio, which recently had its bid to acquire Mean Country 1035 AM approved by the Radio Authority (see Watchdog Shines On Sunrise Radio’s Mean Country Bid), also experienced a solid year on year increase in weekly reach. Meanwhile, Premier Christian Radio saw a 21.3% year on year improvement during the same period and Time FM saw its weekly reach increase by 100% year on year .
Capital 95.8 FM experienced a notable year percentage point decline in share of listening, which dropped below the 10% mark. The station still dominates the London market in terms of share, but a 0.9% year on year increase at rival Heart 106.2 during the same period narrowed its lead.
Capital Gold London experienced a 0.8% point year on year decrease in its share of listening and alternative music station Xfm suffered a slight 0.2% point dip during the same period.
Emap’s mainstream music station Magic 105.4 also experienced a solid increase in share of listening, which rose by 0.9% points year on year. Emap is planning to use the format to bid for the new local FM analogue licence for Glasgow, which serves around 1.7 million adults (see Radio’s Big Guns Line Up For Glasgow FM Licence).
Speech-based radio stations continued to increase their grip on the London market and LBC 97.3 saw its share of listening improve by 1.8% The station recently relaunched and has benefited from a host of high profile signings including Caroline Feraday from BBC Radio Five Live and Howard Hughes from rival London station, Capital FM (see Jane Moore To Join LBC Breakfast Show).
Elsewhere in the sector, Emap’s dance music station, Kiss 100 FM, experienced a 0.4% year on year increase and Jazz FM London saw its share of listening rise by 0.3%. However, Virgin 105.8 FM London, which recently emerged victorious from its High Court battle with Chris Evans (see SMG Triumphs Over Evans In High Court Battle), saw its share of listening drop by 0.3% year on year.
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