Music stations battle for listeners

WHILE RTE Radio 1 is still Dublin's most popular station, the real battle for our ears and for advertisers takes place among …

WHILE RTE Radio 1 is still Dublin's most popular station, the real battle for our ears and for advertisers takes place among the music stations.

Both 2FM and FM 104 are up, the former by two percentage points (to 22 per cent) and the latter one point (to 15 per cent). Classic Hits 98 FM dropped from 19 per cent to 18 per cent.

The other measurement - it looks at how many people "listened yesterday" - shows a similar trend, with 98 FM dropping two points, FM 104 up two points and 2FM up one to 26 per cent.

RTE's response to the latest figures was to claim more people listened to RTE radio last year than in the previous 12 months and that the station had done well within certain listener categories.

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The head of radio at RTE, Mr Kevin Healy, said the figures consolidated RTE's position as the premier broadcaster. He said it had been a "considerable achievement to have increased the number of listeners in important audience categories in the face of tough competition".

Mr Healy highlighted Morning Ireland as the country's most popular programme.

"As the figures cover the entire year, the survey was not designed to monitor the new RTE Radio 1 programme schedule but all the indications are that it is working very well. We have the best presenters in the business and we will continue to bring in new talent and a range of new programmes."

The chairman of the Association of Independent Radio Stations, Mr Charlie Collins, said the latest figures were a further boost to independent local radio. They were particularly significant as they came immediately after a much heralded revamp of RTE 1's schedule and were the last figures before the launch of Radio Ireland.

The chief executive of the Independent Radio and Television Commission, Mr Michael O'Keeffe, expressed "great satisfaction" with the growth of the independent radio sector.