Community radio audiences booming
Friday, 25 August 2006
37% of people in ÐÂÀË²ÊÆ± aged over 15 - 340,000 people - are now regular community radio listeners. That's the result from the second comprehensive national survey of community radio audiences by respected firm McNair Ingenuity to be launched in Sydney today.
Up from 31% in September 2004, the results track listeners to ÐÂÀË²ÊÆ±'s six metropolitan stations - , 3D Radio, 5EBI, Fresh FM, Life FM and 5RPH - as well as four sub-metro stations, Coast FM, 5PBA, 5MBS and WowFM. On a national level, listener numbers have increased from 24% of people over 15 to 25%, or just over 4 million people around Australia.
"The results indicate that ÐÂÀË²ÊÆ± has a particularly strong and popular community radio scene, and also that more and more people are tuning in for the alternative we provide," says Radio ÐÂÀË²ÊÆ±'s Station Manager, Deborah Welch.
"They like that we're local, that we provide unique and specialist programs and that we work to support the culture and communities where we live."
In terms of the weekly listening audience for Radio ÐÂÀË²ÊÆ±, Ms Welch estimates it is now around 75,000 people.
"We've also seen a dramatic increase in our subscriber numbers this year, and that is another clear indicator that more people are listening to and appreciating the different kind of radio we offer," she says.
Of the survey respondents, 46% say their reasons for listening are "specialist talk and music programs", and 43% appreciate "support of Australian