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United Kingdom - Current situation - History

09.08.2024

RAJAR audience research data published in August 2024, and covering the period ending June 2024, shows the continued growth of DAB listening in the United Kingdom.

  • A record 50.8 million adults or 88% of the adult (15+) UK population tuned in to radio stations each week in the second quarter of 2024.
  • DAB's share of in-car listening was 57.1% - showing year-on-year growth of nearly 6pp (Q2 23: 51.2%) 
  • DAB's share of all listening is 42.8%, against 40.3% in the same period last year.
  • The total digital share of listening (DAB, DTV, Website/App, or Smart speaker) also hit a record high of 73.7%, up from 68.6% in 2023. In terms of reach, 45 million adults - 77% of the population - aged 15+ are now tuning in to radio via a digitally enabled platform each week.
  • In an average week, digital listening accounts for 772 million hours; DAB has a 58% share of digital listening hours.
  • AM/FM share of all listening fell to 26.3% from 31.4% in the same period last year.

RAJAR produces an infographic showing key UK audience data.

Further analysis is available from Matt Deegan, who says: "The changing nature of consumption means DAB is pretty essential for radio stations now."

 

Small-scale DAB

The small-scale DAB programme in the UK will enable the launch of around 150 or more multiplexes, covering all four UK nations. By August 2024, 60 multiplexes had launched, broadcasting a range of radio services, from grass-roots community services to specialist music stations, and services aimed at minority groups and other under-served audiences.

UK regulator Ofcom says "Small-scale DAB is an established technology which provides a low-cost way for local commercial, community and specialist music services to take to the digital airwaves."

Several licensing rounds have now been completed, and in May 2024, applications opened for the sixth round of small-scale DAB radio multiplex licences for 31 areas across England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. The regulator received 33 applications in this round. 

Read more about small-scale DAB licensing in the UK on the media regulator Ofcom's website. In May 2022, Ofcom published a review of demand in the first three licensing rounds.

23.05.2024

RAJAR audience research data published in May 2024, and covering the period ending March 2024, shows the continued growth of DAB listening in the United Kingdom.

  • 50 million adults or 89% of the adult (15+) UK population tuned in to radio stations each week in the first quarter of 2024.
  • DAB's share of in-car listening reached a record high of 57.5% - a significant increase both from the previous quarter (55.4%) and year-on-year (50.6%). 
  • DAB's share of all listening is 42.6%, against 39.8% in the same period last year.
  • The total digital share of listening (DAB, DTV, Website/App, or Smart speaker) also hit a record high of 73%, up from 67.6% in 2023. In terms of reach, 44 million adults - 77% of the population - aged 15+ are now tuning in to radio via a digitally enabled platform each week.
  • In an average week, digital listening accounts for 746 million hours; DAB has a 58% share of digital listening hours.
  • AM/FM share of all listening fell to 27% from 32.4% in the same period last year.

RAJAR produces an infographic showing key UK audience data.

Further analysis is available from Matt Deegan: "Radio's Relentlessness - Q1/2024 RAJAR" and James Cridland: "Broadcast radio continues to offer the majority of radio listening in the UK".

 

Small-scale DAB

The small-scale DAB programme in the UK will enable the launch of around 150 or more multiplexes, covering all four UK nations. By May 2024, 55 multiplexes had launched, broadcasting a range of radio services, from grass-roots community services to specialist music stations, and services aimed at minority groups and other under-served audiences.

UK regulator Ofcom says "Small-scale DAB is an established technology which provides a low-cost way for local commercial, community and specialist music services to take to the digital airwaves."

Several licensing rounds have now been completed, and in May 2024, applications opened for the sixth round of small-scale DAB radio multiplex licences for 31 areas across England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

Read more about small-scale DAB licensing in the UK on the media regulator Ofcom's website. In May 2022, Ofcom published a review of demand in the first three licensing rounds.

20.05.2022
Rajar listening data published on 19 May 2022 confirmed the predominance of digital radio platforms in the United Kingdom 

  • Digital listening share increased to a new record of 67.9%, up from 64.5% in Q4 2021, boosted by the growth of online listening including via smart speakers.

  • Digital reach is also at a new record with 42 million adults, or 75% of the population, tuning in via a digital platform each week, up from 40 million or 72% in Q4 2021.

  • Digital platforms now account for 72% of all commercial radio listening and 65% of all BBC radio listening.

  • Listening via DAB remains the most popular platform for radio listening, accounting for 41% of all listening and 60% of digital listening while listening via DTV accounts for 4.5% of all listening and 7% of digital listening.  Listening via analogue platforms now accounts for under a third (32%) of all radio listening.

  • Digital listening in home increased to 72%, up from 69% quarter on quarter, and digital listening in car increased to 54%, up from 51% quarter on quarter.

Small-scale DAB

The Ofcom small-scale programme is extensive and will potentially see the launch of up to 200 small-scale multiplexes throughout the UK over an extended period of 10 years.

The first small scale DAB multiplex launched on 10 December 2021, after several years of trials. The multiplex, managed and operated by Teesside firm MUX ONE, was launched in Tynemouth and South Shields in the north east of England, and sees 13 stations launched with more to follow in the coming months.

In a second round of licensing, Ofcom has awarded 17 new small scale multiplex licences, taking the total to 42. It has also published a review of its first two rounds of licensing.

Ofcom small-scale licensing roll-out timetable:

  • September 2020: Round One licences advertised
  • July 2021: Completion of Round One licence awards
  • August 2022 - January 2023: Deadline for Round One multiplex launches
  • June 2021: Round Two licences advertised (North west England and north east Wales ‘macro area’)
  • May 2022: Round Two licences awarded
  • November 2023: Deadline for Round Two multiplex launche
  • January 2022: Round Three licences advertised
  • Autumn 2022: Round Four licences advertised