News / BBC Radio Bristol
BBC Radio Bristol listening numbers plummet to lowest ever level
BBC Radio Bristol has seen the biggest drop in listeners out of all BBC radio stations across the country in the last quarter, new figures reveal.
A report by the Radio Joint Audience Research (RAJAR) reveals the station’s listenership has dropped by more than half after 66,000 fewer people tuned in during the first three months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 – marking a significant drop of 58.4 per cent.
Its audience is now at its lowest ever level with just 47,000 weekly listeners, a 40 per cent drop on the previous set of figures when the audience was 78,000.
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It comes after the broadcaster has cut dozens of jobs in local radio in England with more programmes shared between its stations and money saved diverted to online journalism.
Almost the entire lineup at Radio Bristol left their roles at station in 2023 – photo: BBC Bristol
In 2023, BBC Radio Bristol underwent a major shakeup which saw Claire Cavanagh, Joe Lemer, Laura Rawlings and Steve Yabsley no longer presenting shows at the station after the broadcaster announced sweeping cuts to local stations.
Much-loved actor Joe Sims was named host of the BBC Radio Bristol breakfast show in September 2023. Sims, who is best known for his roles in Broadchurch and Doctor Who, described himself as “the proudest Bristolian in the world” when he took to the airwaves as part of a radical overhaul of the Radio Bristol schedules.
Joe Simms was named host of the BBC Radio Bristol breakfast show in September – photo: BBC Bristol
RAJAR’s figures mean that Radio Bristol’s audience is now smaller than BBC Radio Somerset which attracts 55,000 weekly listeners. The latter was originally launched as an opt-out service from Bristol back in the 80s.
Several BBC local radio stations have also suffered heavy losses in listener number. Among other casualties include BBC Radio Berkshire and BBC Radio Gloucester which registered a drop of 32.5 per cent and 27.7 per cent respectively.
A handful of local stations reported an increase in listeners. BBC Radio Oxford saw an extra 17,000 people tuning in during the first three months of this year compared to the same time in 2023.
Charlotte Moore, BBC chief content officer, said: “While listening habits continue to evolve, the latest quarterly figures demonstrate the power of breakfast radio, bringing people together in all four corners of the UK, with more listeners choosing to start their day with music from across the BBC’s radio networks.”
Bristol24/7 has approached BBC Radio Bristol for comment.
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- BBC radio presenters boycott their live shows to ‘save local radio’
- Joe Simms is new BBC Radio Bristol Breakfast Show presenter
- These are the BBC presenters who are leaving
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