More than half the UK population now listens to radio via digital channels, according to the latest official radio listening figures, giving fresh impetus for Government plans to press ahead with the delayed switchover from analogue to digital signal.
The latest RAJAR figures released today (1 August) show 52.5 per cent of UK adults now tune in to the radio via digital channels each week, generating a total of 378 million listening hours, and accounting for 36.8 per cent all radio listening.
Initial plans for a digital radio switchover were delayed in November last year due to poor audience pick-up. Ofcom said at the time the 50 per cent threshold, which the Government had set as a trigger for a switchover, was not likely to be reached by November 2014.
Subsequently, the organisation charged with overseeing the digital radio switchover, Digital Radio UK, launched a major marketing campaign to encourage the public to “spread the love” for digital radio in a bid to raise digital listening hours.
RAJAR’s figures, compiled by Ipsos MORI in the three months to June 30, show a total of 28 million people now listen to radio via digital platforms - which include TV sets, compatible radios, mobiles and online platforms - each week, accounting for 57.8 per cent of radio listeners.
DAB radios remain the most popular device for digital listeners, accounting for 18 per cent of this audience.
Radio listening hours via online devices numbered 62 million during the quarter, compared with the 55 million hours generated by digital TV channels.
The statistics also show total radio listening hours in the quarter (1.03 billion) were largely flat, both year on year and quarter on quarter, with an average of 90.8 per cent of the UK listening to a radio each week.
The figures come the day after the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published a paper outlining a legislative framework for “digital inclusion” in preparation for the digital switchover.