United Kingdom - Current situation - History

24.10.2024

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

DAB has a record 63.4% reach of the UK population (Q3 23: 61.3%), and DAB share of all listening is 44% (Q3 23: 42.3%)
DAB share of in-car listening is 64.8%, an increase of over ten percentage points year-on-year (Q3 23: 54.7%)
All digital share of all listening reaches another record high of 74.3% (Q3 23: 70.3%), with AM/FM share of all listening falling to 25.7% (Q3 23: 29.7%).

RAJAR produces an infographic showing key UK audience data.

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 Octover 2024, 64 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 October 2024, Ofcom published a progress update on its small-scale DAB roll-out across the UK.

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."

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."

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.