Chrysalis are promoting good RAJAR figures today by claiming the Heart Network Remains UK’s No.1 Commercial ILR Brand.
The Q1 2006 Rajar results, released today, show a solid year on year performance from the Chrysalis Group, with total weekly hours for Chrysalis Radio increasing to 52.3m, up 1.4%.
The Heart brand has shown a 2% increase in year on year listening hours. In its first full survey under the Heart brand, Heart 106 in the East Midlands (formerly Century 106) has seen the station’s total hours increase by 12.3% in the quarter.
LBC 97.3fm saw a year on year increase in listening hours of 52%, with a 25% increase in the last quarter alone. Much of the growth has come from new signings Iain Lee and Anna Raeburn, who saw the quarter on quarter average half hourly audiences for their shows increase by 101% and 131% respectively. Nick Ferrari’s Sony Gold Award winning breakfast show also saw a quarter on quarter increase in average half hourly audiences of 15%.
The Galaxy Network remains the No 1 young adult commercial radio brand.
Phil Riley, Chief Executive, Chrysalis Radio, said: ‘I am particularly delighted with the results for LBC. Following the two Sony Gold Awards earlier this week – including the Breakfast Show Award for Nick Ferrari – this dramatic increase in listening hours is fantastic news for the station and particularly encouraging that so much of the growth has been driven by our recent signings. I am also pleased with the growth of our newest station Heart 106.’