Radio New Zealand Audiences 2006
Radio New Zealand audience survey results published today have once again reinforced the strong position of public
service broadcasting in a highly competitive and rapidly changing New Zealand radio market.
Network Services
Results from the latest Research International survey of New Zealanders on their radio listening habits show that about
one in five people aged 15 and over continue to listen to live broadcasts from either National Radio and / or Concert FM
in an average week.
National Radio with a cumulative audience of 474,700 has maintained its station share position at No.2 nationwide.
The Research International survey was carried out from mid May to late June 2006 and is one of a number of methods used
to measure Radio New Zealand network audiences and compliance with Radio New Zealand Charter obligations.
Website Services
While the Research International audience survey shows some decline in traditional listenership for National Radio and
Concert FM since the last survey, it does not reflect the rapid growth in audio on demand and podcast listening via
Radio New Zealand’s new website services.
There have been significant changes in the way some New Zealanders access Radio New Zealand programming with the
introduction of web based audio on demand, live streaming and podcast services over the past twelve months.
Commenting on changing listenership opportunities, Radio New Zealand Chief Executive, Peter Cavanagh, said New Zealand
audiences were rapidly embracing the new world of time-shifted listening.
“New technology such as audio-on-demand and podcasting frees our listeners from the tyranny of the fixed live
broadcasting schedule and this is reflected in website access data. “
Public demand for services from the Radio New Zealand website www.radionz.co.nz has exceeded all expectations. Requests
for audio-on-demand items had topped one million after only nine months of the new service and demand continues to
increase with an average of 4,000 items now served to listeners every day. Demand for podcast feeds of key programmes
and interviews has also exceeded expectations with downloads now reaching 15,000 a day.
Peter Cavanagh emphasised the importance of extending public access to Radio New Zealand’s broadcasting services:
“Radio New Zealand is now a platform-neutral broadcaster providing programme content to listeners wherever, whenever and
however they want to receive it.
“While traditional radio listening will continue to make up the bulk of our audience numbers for some time, New
Zealanders are increasingly accessing our programmes through a broad range of other electronic devices such as their
computers, MP3 players, cell phones and television sets.
Cavanagh said digital broadcasting via the internet meant that Radio New Zealand was no longer restricted to being a
national broadcaster.
“A huge volume of our online listening now comes from New Zealanders living and working overseas and by leading the way
in digital broadcasting, Radio New Zealand has effectively become a global broadcaster to all New Zealanders - wherever
they are in the world.”
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A summary of the 2006 Research International All New Zealand Radio Survey accompanies this release.
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MEDIA INFORMATION
RADIO NEW ZEALAND AUDIENCES 2006
Results from the latest Research International survey of New Zealanders on their radio listening habits show that
National Radio and Concert FM together are listened to by almost one in five people aged 15 years and over in an average
week.
The survey was carried out from mid May to late June 2006 and is designed to measure Radio New Zealand network audiences
and the company compliance with Radio New Zealand Charter obligations.
Radio New Zealand Audiences
Results show that National Radio and Concert FM together attract 540,900 listeners aged 15 years and over in an average
week. (Monday to Sunday, midnight to midnight.) This represents 19% of the total population aged 15 years and over.
National Radio Audiences
The traditional ‘live’ radio audience for the National Radio network in 2006 is statistically unchanged compared to that
of 2005. Actual weekly radio audiences for National Radio are 474,700 listeners aged 15 years and over. This represents
16% of the total population 15 years and over. The comparable figure in 2005 was 517,400 listeners.
Station Share
National Radio is the number two station in 2006 in terms of station share nationwide among people aged 15 years and
over.
Concert FM Audiences
Concert FM has an audience of 127,100 listeners aged 15 years and over. This compares with a figure of 159,300 listeners
in 2005.
Network Programming Performance
Radio New Zealand has achieved excellent listener satisfaction results.
84% of National Radio listeners are satisfied with programming on the network. Only 4% are dissatisfied. (The remainder
are neutral in their opinion ).
Results for Concert FM show 78% are satisfied with programming and just 3% dissatisfied.
22% of National Radio listeners believe programming has improved over the last twelve months and 12% think it has got
worse.
For Concert FM programmes 12% of listeners think the station has improved and 6% believe it has got worse.
Notes:
Details of the Radio New Zealand audience survey will be included in the Radio New Zealand Annual Report to be published
in November.
Research International data excludes details of listener access to Radio New Zealand programming via audio on demand and
podcast downloads.
Source:
Research International All NZ Radio Surveys 2005 and 2006
*Cumulative Audience, All 15+
# National Share, All 15+
ENDS