Latest RAJARs

[antongould]

Looking at the RAJAR figures for public consumption, reach has increased from 1.932 million to 2.126 million, very roughly an increase of 200,000. Petroc claims about 50% of this.

Where did the other increases occur? Night Tracks? Beethoven Unleashed would not be a factor for last quarter.

IIRC we don’t get that level of granularity ....... so we can all have our own theory .....

[french frank]

:-)

Leaving aside Radio 3's figures for a moment (which are very good), general comments to put them in context. Overall radio listening hours are down somewhat (compared with last December) but BBC Radio's share has gone up. Given the rise in Radio 4's share (up from 11.2% to 12%, reach up by half a million and 5 live similarly), we are certainly seeing an unusual effect caused by the national news last quarter. It looks as if that might have affected all/most BBC stations though R1 and R2 are down, probably because people were seeking their news elsewhere.

One thing to check when considering R3's figures is now those of Classic FM and Scala Radio. Classic FM has similarly shot up and Scala Radio (half-yearly compared with last quarter) is up too.

The rise in Classic FM's figures tend (only tend) to suggest (to me) that the rise in Radio 3's has more to do with a general listening pattern last quarter than anything Radio 3 has done - a general buoyancy - but as usual it won't be until the next quarter when things will/may have calmed down that we'll see whether the figures are an improvement or a fluctuation.

Breakfast figures are solid after a slump last quarter.

[Constantbee]

Thanks for this. Lovely to hear from you again, btw

[antongould]

From the Skellers twittersphere ...... so it must be true

“Everyone very pleased with the increase in he 16% rise in the number of you tuning in. Very pleased to see Essential Classics now has the biggest audience it's had since 2010. Onwards and upwards with your help.”

English is his 4th language ....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I prefer the Schoolmarm .......

Not the school bully?

[LMcD]

Not the school bully?

Ian Ogilvy?

[Barbirollians]

Apparently the Today programme has gained 500,000 listeners in the same period - wonder if the retirement of the dinosaur John Humphries played a part in that ?

[oddoneout]

So will that be taken as vindication of the 'new initiatives' and justification for foisting more on us?

[antongould]

So will that be taken as vindication of the 'new initiatives' and justification for foisting more on us?

Probably both

[jayne lee wilson]

So will that be taken as vindication of the 'new initiatives' and justification for foisting more on us?

Maybe just "go with it" for now.... those young listeners might soon be demanding more "substance"......who knows...?

[Kernow Malc]

Well, they've lost this listener - nowhere else to go of course.

[french frank]

Petroc reports that 'Breakfast' has gained 87,000 new listeners, although I don't know what that is as a percentage.

Forget percentages: the raw quarterly figures published for 2019 were: Q1 689k Q2 743k Q3 599k Q4 689k (612k in Dec 2108). So it's only a 'regain' from the figures lost last quarter. It's a misconception at best, misleading at worst to claim that these are all 'new listeners'.

Similarly, the D Telegraph's 16.4% rise in overall reach is based an abnormally appalling 1.826m reach in December 2018.

[french frank]

From the Skellers twittersphere ...... so it must be true

“Everyone very pleased with the increase in the 16% rise in the number of you tuning in. Very pleased to see Essential Classics now has the biggest audience it's had since 2010. Onwards and upwards with your help.”

The information is from either the BBC Press office or the Daily Telegraph. The increase of 16% refers to the rise from 1.826m in December 2018 to 2.126m in December 2019. (Work it out: 2126 - 1826 = 300 ÷ 1826 = 0.16429 x 100 = 16.429%)

The catch is that the 1.826m was the worst December figure on record (dating back to 1999). Everyone is pleased that Radio 3's December figure increased by 16.429% over last year's worst ever figure. But 'tis good to be grateful for all mercies.

[The best December figure was 2.216m in 2010; but also 2003 was 2.192n and 2002 was 2.154m. 'Increase x' is not exactly the same as 'general improvement'.]

[Stanfordian]

Here, I am of the cognisant of the phrase 'Lies, damned lies, and statistics.' More young listeners, mhm!

[LMcD]

:-)

Leaving aside Radio 3's figures for a moment (which are very good), general comments to put them in context. Overall radio listening hours are down somewhat (compared with last December) but BBC Radio's share has gone up. Given the rise in Radio 4's share (up from 11.2% to 12%, reach up by half a million and 5 live similarly), we are certainly seeing an unusual effect caused by the national news last quarter. It looks as if that might have affected all/most BBC stations though R1 and R2 are down, probably because people were seeking their news elsewhere.

One thing to check when considering R3's figures is now those of Classic FM and Scala Radio. Classic FM has similarly shot up and Scala Radio (half-yearly compared with last quarter) is up too.

The rise in Classic FM's figures tend (only tend) to suggest (to me) that the rise in Radio 3's has more to do with a general listening pattern last quarter than anything Radio 3 has done - a general buoyancy - but as usual it won't be until the next quarter when things will/may have calmed down that we'll see whether the figures are an improvement or a fluctuation.

Breakfast figures are solid after a slump last quarter.

A welcome and necessary corrective to Forumistas (including myself) foolish enough to see anything much to be cheerful about in the latest figures.