Arqiva comment on Q2 2017 RAJARS

Today (03 August) saw the publication of the latest RAJAR figures for radio listening in the UK.

Commenting on the results, Richard Johnston, Head of Commercial Radio at Arqiva, said:

Radio is in extremely good health in the UK, with Ofcom's Communications Market Report today (03 August) showing that average weekly radio hours per listener grew in 2016.

As part of that, it is great to see that digital radio's share of all radio listening continues to rise as more and more people tune in to the benefits that the platform provides. It's easy to forget that less than five years ago digital radio accounted for under a third of all listening, whereas now it is close to half. There are a number of reasons for the current increase and I categorise them into the three Cs of Choice, Coverage and Cars. There are now more stations available in more places than ever before, and our work with DCMS, the BBC and the local network operators to bring local DAB to more people will only serve to further increase the rate of take-up.

The significant work we have been doing over the past few years on behalf of the DCMS, the BBC and Local DAB multiplex operators to expand UK local DAB coverage, is making a real impact. Having delivered the target of over 90% local DAB household coverage in September 2016, more and more listeners now have access to digital radio in the UK than ever before.

Last year also saw the successful launch of the Sound Digital multiplex, offering 18 more national digital radio services. This was another significant landmark in the growth of the DAB platform, giving listeners much more choice.

As we edge closer towards the significant milestone of 50% digital listening we will continue to invest in the platform and work closely with the DCMS, multiplex operators and broadcasters to help the DAB platform to continue to grow and thrive.

- ENDS -

About Arqiva

Arqiva is a leading UK communications infrastructure and media services provider dedicated to connecting people wherever they are through the delivery of TV, radio, mobile and the Internet of Things (IoT). We are an independent provider of telecom towers, with circa 8,000 active sites across Great Britain, and are also the only supplier of national terrestrial television and radio broadcasting services in the UK. Our advanced networks support the exponential growth of connected devices and the ever-increasing demand for data from smartphones to tablets, connected TVs, smart meters, cars and medical devices.

For more information contact:

Tony Johnson, Media & PR Manager, Arqiva

+44 (0) 7773 045480

tony.johnson@arqiva.com

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analogue radio

digital radio

radio

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