Briantist said at January 2nd, 2009 at 8:34pm

Whilst I totally agree with your conclusion “to ensure that new-platforms reach the car” there could be a number of other factors:

1) British (ie, BBC) radio offers more formats that are not just about amazing people whilst they drive. Radio 4, in particular, is unrivalled elsewhere and offers programming that is beyond car-time-filling;

2) With AM, FM, DAB, Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media and online the British public love their well funded, ad-free radio and this makes it suitable for listening everywhere.

3) There is a culture of radio listening in the UK that doesn’t just see it as “car time”, but as everything from the bedside alarm-clock, via the breakfast table, online at work, shared at work, live sports and so forth.

4) People can often listen to it on the move on public transport. I have often taken a bus so I can listen to the radio when otherwise I would use the tube, for example.

John Handelaar said at January 2nd, 2009 at 8:57pm

What he said. I’d like to see the UK numbers broken down by format ‘cos there’s a loud but undersupported-by-numbers voice in my head saying that Radio 4 is skewing that figure dramatically.

Briantist said at January 2nd, 2009 at 9:02pm

http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php

Johnnie said at January 5th, 2009 at 4:32pm

John – I’ve looked quickly at figures for the TSA in which I work.. which has a lower overall proportion (15 per cent) of in-car listening. I guess they tend towards your R4 theory – certainly if you add in BBC Local Radio.

% Hours in-car
BBC Local Radio 9
Heritage ILR 18
Female-friendly regional 15
BBC Radio 1 26
BBC Radio 2 20
BBC Radio 4 12
BBC Radio 5 Live 23
All Others 12

As well as type of programming (built speech vs music/sequences), I wonder if there’s a male-female split here too – Moyles (1) and Football (5) attracting solo listening among men in cars, while women (allegedly controlling home/family listening depending on your consultant of choice) are building up home hours for music targeted at them on ILR? It can’t just be a “speech” thing.. because Five Live’s right up there with R1 and 2.

All of which is slightly guesswork otherwise I’d be earning more than I do as a full-time RAJAR-cruncher :)

Briantist said at January 5th, 2009 at 10:08pm

Johnnie: BBC Radio 5 Live must be all of the nation’s taxi drivers?

Johnnie said at January 6th, 2009 at 8:36pm

Well, the ones who aren’t listening to talkSPORT anyway.

Remember my figs are only from one small (<500k) TSA.. so I wouldn’t read too much into them!