Survey shows listeners are tuning in to Downtown Radio

Figures just released by Radio Joint Audience Research (Rajar) have shown over one hundred thousand more people are tuning in to Downtown Radio each week in comparison to the same period last year.

The Independent audience figures, released last week by Rajar, show that 403,000 people switch on to the station in comparison to 302,000 twelve months ago.

Its sister station Cool FM has also increased its audience, with almost 360,000 tuning in, making it one of the most popular music stations in Northern Ireland.

Managing Director of both Downtown and Cool FM David Sloan described the figures as “outstanding”.

“Recent reports show that viewing figures for television are on the decline while more and more people are listening to radio, but to grow an audience to this extent in an ever increasing competitive environment is an amazing achievement. It’s a tribute to the staff on both stations and will give our advertisers added confidence that it pays to use radio in their marketing campaigns” he said.

Meanwhile Belfast CityBeat, according to its station manager John Ross, has asked Rajar to conduct an investigation into the accuracy of their figures. The radio station, which is based at Lamont Buildings in Stranmillis Embankment is questioning figures which show the radio station pulls in around 127,000 listeners per week.

The audience measure report also shows the number of people listening to BBC Radio each week has risen by 300,000 since September 2001.

BBC Radio 2 increased its grip as the most popular station in the UK, with 12.3 million listeners per week - a rise of 1.6 million in the last year.

Terry Wogan's show for the station, the most popular breakfast show among adults, reached a record audience level with 7.2 million people tuning in every week. (AMcE)