BBC Radio Bristol's audience down by 25 per cent
BBC Radio Bristol has lost a quarter of its listeners in a year, according to the latest industry figures.
Meanwhile, commercial radio stations Jack FM and Heart have enjoyed an increase in the number of people tuning in to their shows.
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Industry analyst RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research Limited) releases listener figures every three months.
The latest reveal that Radio Bristol's weekly audience "reach" between January 1 and March 31 this year was 144,000.
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During the first quarter of 2011 it had 192,000 listeners, meaning 48,000 people have switched off the public service broadcaster on 94.9FM in the past year.
Back in 1999, the station used to attract 283,000 listeners – almost twice as many as it does today.
Tim Pemberton, managing editor of Radio Bristol, said: "The good news is that the figures show, quarter on quarter, our listeners are listening for over two hours longer each week and we have increased our share of the available audience.
"We are always looking for better ways to serve our audiences with local news, passionate presenters and great music.
"Last year, BBC Radio Bristol recorded its highest reach for eight years, so it is not surprising to see a reduction year-on-year."
The "reach" refers to the number of people over 15 years old who tune in for at least a five-minute period in a week.
During the year leading up to the period covered by the latest audience figures the station saw the departure of high-profile presenters Graham Torrington, from the mid-morning weekday show, and Peter Rowell, who had presented the afternoon show before his arrest and subsequent jailing for sex offences.
Jack FM, formerly called Original, is celebrating its highest ever number of weekly listeners, up from 102,000 to 118,000 year on year (an extra 16 per cent).
Breakfast show presenter Ian Downs joked: "We are absolutely amazed because we spend most of our time playing solitaire."
He added: "The support we're getting from people in the Bristol area is fantastic and we're obviously getting listeners from other stations."
Meanwhile, Heart 96-103 gained 7,000 new listeners in the last year, increasing from 670,000 per week to 677,000.
Heart's programme controller Paul Andrew said: "We are thrilled with our new audience figures.
"They confirm the growing popularity of Heart and we would like to thank all our listeners for tuning in."
Heart 96-103 is available in Bristol on 96.3FM, the frequency that used to be home to another Bristol station, GWR FM.
Listeners of The Breeze 107.2, formerly Star, fell 10,000 in the year to 23,000, down 30 per cent.
Comments
by Trucks79
Friday, May 25 2012, 4:58PM
“Well with all the cut backs maybe the BBC will look at closing the local stations in the near future anyway? JackFM is great however the annoying one line jokes can drive you crazy sometimes. Apart from that its great!”
by blowtorch
Friday, May 25 2012, 3:53PM
“Too much trivia and waffle from the presenters tried too listen too breakfast show but it wasent for me.There is just something that lacks with it.”
by fionarabbit
Thursday, May 24 2012, 9:36PM
“@DennisB2012 "Remember, it was the Post that drew people's attention to the change in the first place. My request was simply that they should show a comparison with their own circulation statistics."
But why? The Post reported on the latest RAJAR figures, as they have frequently done in the past. Sometimes these figures have shown increase in listeners for Radio Bristol, but this time they showed quite a marked decline.
This has nothing to do with The Post's circulation figures - it's not even the same section of the media. Trying to link a decline in radio listeners with a fall in the circulation of a newspaper is meaningless.”
by piledriver
Thursday, May 24 2012, 7:05PM
“Well I listen but I've never been asked if I do so where do these numbers come from?
In terms of phone ins, I find it amusing that people complain about so & so from Eastville, always being on, yet never call themselves!
That's why so & so's on all the time-If more people rang he's wouldn't get through and if he did, he wouldn't get as long.”
by emessar
Thursday, May 24 2012, 6:30PM
“would it be something to do with the standard of Radio Presenters we have. There are some who cannot read the news from the screen at a speed one can understand, otthers cannot string 2 words together grammatically. Others are puerile children, mainly mid afternoon.
I can count on one hand the Presenters who are worthy to be called professional.
Sadly the young bright things are not included. They are just awful.
Come back the days of Richard Wyatt, Roger Bennett and John.
Get rid of Geoff Twentyman for a start talk of illiterate. I just cannot understand what he is saying 90% of the time”
by DennisB2012
Thursday, May 24 2012, 2:28PM
“Remember, it was the Post that drew people's attention to the change in the first place.
My request was simply that they should show a comparison with their own circulation statistics.
I still wait to see the Post's response. This will help readers know that they care about balance.
I sincerely hope they will provide the data. Otherwise people may believe that the Post wishes to hide something.
It's certainly not my job to do this work for the Post. I'm just simply encouraging them to provide an objective "service" to their readers.”
by bris28
Thursday, May 24 2012, 1:25PM
“If Dennis was really interested in paper circulations he could look at the trade website which deals with this aspect.
One wonders why the BBC has not responded to all this feedback on this site and the letter that appeared in the Post this week. Does Dennis, or anyone else, have any ideas why we have not heard from Radio Bristol?”
by DennisB2012
Thursday, May 24 2012, 9:03AM
“My question was about context.
If there is a general decline in audiences - be it radio or printed media - it is a relevant point.
Clearly, I'm still waiting for the Post to tell us their details.
PS I'm not the Dennis who might live in Wraxall!”
by Buck_Jones
Thursday, May 24 2012, 5:55AM
“Listened in for a few minutes whilst driving yesterday. True to form, so and so phoned in. I had to switch off for fear of falling asleep at the wheel.”
by Radio_Dead
Wednesday, May 23 2012, 3:06PM
“Too right. The so-called 'Phone-In is a joke. More like a bloody social club on the blower.
'And now we have Dennis fom Wraxall, offering his opinion and (lack of knowledge) on any given subject, from teachers, to police pay and conditions, to Bristol City FC, always claiming to know about the given subject, whilst, I imagine, touching the side of his nose, knowingly, and boring the listener about how hard he's had it and stuff the unions. (Although I bet he took any concessions they won him)'.
And who's up next? It's Gerald from Knowle, like you know like you know, like you know, and again, like you know'.
No, I don't bloody know Gerald, you're telling the story and I'm not a bloody mind reader.
And, finally, it's Roger from Knowle, foaming at the mouth over something or other. Sometimes those 'Tin-Boxes On Wheels', or 'Cars' as we call them. How did YOU get to work, Roger, bearing in mind I know the answer?
They've even had people 'phoning up the switchboard to get on air BEFORE the presenter has told the listener what the day's subject is???????
Radio Bristol?
'DEAD MAN WALKING, DEAD MAN WALKING.......”