RADIO ULSTER CELEBRATES MARKET RISE
Radio Ulster celebrates market rise
By Una Bradley
BBC bosses were celebrating today after Radio Ulster's share of the airwaves reached an all-time high.
Figures for the last three months show the station's slice of the market to have peaked at 24.5% - the highest ever.
In real terms, that means an average 342,000 people tuned in to Radio Ulster or Radio Foyle over any one week during July, August and September.
RAJAR figures were not yet available for these months for BBC NI's main rivals - sister stations Downtown and Cool FM.
Newtonards-based Downtown has been battling to keep a hold in the increasingly competitive radio marketplace. In the second quarter of this year, its share was wavering at 11.4%.
The more commercially successful Cool FM had carved up 21.3% of the market in the same period.
Radio Ulster was practically neck and neck with Cool FM during the second quarter with 21.1%.
BBC NI Controller Pat Loughrey said today's figures proved the public service station was highly valued.
"It's an enormous tribute to the professionalism and dedication of the staff," he said.
Head of Broadcast, Anna Carragher, said the upward turn indicated people tuned in to Radio Ulster at times of political turbulence and tragedy.
"We were very aware during the tragic events surrounding the Omagh bombing that Radio Ulster/Foyle became a focus through which the community could express their grief and sympathy, she said.
By Una Bradley
BBC bosses were celebrating today after Radio Ulster's share of the airwaves reached an all-time high.
Figures for the last three months show the station's slice of the market to have peaked at 24.5% - the highest ever.
In real terms, that means an average 342,000 people tuned in to Radio Ulster or Radio Foyle over any one week during July, August and September.
RAJAR figures were not yet available for these months for BBC NI's main rivals - sister stations Downtown and Cool FM.
Newtonards-based Downtown has been battling to keep a hold in the increasingly competitive radio marketplace. In the second quarter of this year, its share was wavering at 11.4%.
The more commercially successful Cool FM had carved up 21.3% of the market in the same period.
Radio Ulster was practically neck and neck with Cool FM during the second quarter with 21.1%.
BBC NI Controller Pat Loughrey said today's figures proved the public service station was highly valued.
"It's an enormous tribute to the professionalism and dedication of the staff," he said.
Head of Broadcast, Anna Carragher, said the upward turn indicated people tuned in to Radio Ulster at times of political turbulence and tragedy.
"We were very aware during the tragic events surrounding the Omagh bombing that Radio Ulster/Foyle became a focus through which the community could express their grief and sympathy, she said.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0470
Published Date: 23-Oct-98
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