RNS Number:8417K
Chrysalis Group PLC
08 May 2003
For Immediate Release 8 May 2003
Chrysalis Group Plc
RAJAR Audience Figures
Chrysalis Radio inflicts further Capital punishment
Chrysalis Radio has once again emerged the winner in London's fiercely
competitive radio market, with gains for both Heart 106.2 and LBC.
Our flagship London station, Heart 106.2 leads the way in the RAJAR figures
released today, with growth in both reach and total hours in the last quarter,
further closing the gap on rival 95.8 Capital FM, which has suffered its worst
ever set of figures.
Over the past quarter, Heart 106.2 has gained 38,000 new listeners, and has
added over 169,000 in the last 12 months. The listener gap with rival Capital
now stands at just 564,000 adults, compared to a gap over of 1 million 12 months
ago.
Our recent acquisition, LBC, has also delivered excellent results. Combined
listening to both the news and talk services has increased in the first three
months since the frequency switch (on January 6th 2003) by over 5%, and
listening on the critical 97.3 FM waveband has increased by 49%.
LBC 97.3 FM now also has 49% of its listening from the under 55 demographic,
compared with just 30% in the December 2002 survey, reflecting the changes made
to the programming line-up.
The Heart and LBC combination now makes Chrysalis Radio comfortably London's No.
2 radio group, and has significantly closed the gap on the Capital Group's
London operations.
Outside London, 100.7 Heart FM has had yet another increase in reach, now
standing at a record 994,000, and continues to dominate the market, further
increasing its listening lead over rival BRMB.
The Galaxy Network has once again turned in a solid performance, with the
network's star, Galaxy 105, posting a further increase in weekly reach to
1,034,000 adults, retaining its status as the biggest commercial radio station
outside London.
Commenting on the figures, Phil Riley, Chrysalis Radio's Chief Executive said; '
Its terrific news for everyone at Chrysalis Radio that we continue to improve
our competitive position, particularly in the group's key London and West
Midlands markets. Following our superb interim results, the numbers provide us
with a great platform for future growth.'
'I am particularly pleased that the switch in frequencies for our London news
and talk services has paid off so quickly and I expect further growth to come in
the months ahead.'
Richard Huntingford, Group Chief Executive said; 'This fantastic performance
from our Heart and LBC stations in the highly competitive London market, coupled
with solid performance from the rest of the Chrysalis Radio Group, further
confirms my belief that we are in an extremely strong position to capitalise on
the forthcoming changes heralded by the Communications Bill.'
For further information please contact:
Richard Huntingford, Group Chief Executive, Chrysalis Group Plc 020 7470 1057/ 07802 793 444
Phil Riley, Chief Executive Radio, Chrysalis Group Plc 020 7470 1077
Harriet Finney, Investor Relations Manager, Chrysalis Group Plc 020 7465 6272/ 07811 370 957
Bobbie Swanson, Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000
RAJAR
December 2002 Release March 2003 Release +/-
Heart 106.2* Weekly Reach 1,811,000 1,849,000 38,000 2.1%
17% 18%
Total Hours 13,387,000 13,612,000 225,000 1.7%
Average Hours 7.4 7.4
Market Share 6.0% 6.2%
100.7 Heart FM Weekly Reach 980,000 994,000 14,000 1.4%
29%
Total Hours 10,434,000 10,085,000 -349,000 -3.3%
Average Hours 10.6 10.1
Market Share 13.3% 12.9%
Galaxy 102 Weekly Reach 420,000 415,000 -5,000 -1.2%
18% 18%
Total Hours 2,555,000 2,785,000 230,000 9.0%
Average Hours 6.1 6.7
Market Share 5.4% 5.9%
Galaxy 105* Weekly Reach 1,017,000 1,034,000 17,000 1.7%
24% 24%
Total Hours 9,021,000 7,945,000 -1,076,000 -11.9%
Average Hours 8.9 7.7
Market Share 9.4% 8.2%
Galaxy 102.2 Weekly Reach 250,000 245,000 -5,000 -2.0%
12% 12%
Total Hours 1,724,000 1,423,000 -301,000 -17.5%
Average Hours 6.9 5.8
Market Share 3.7% 3.0%
Galaxy 105-106 Weekly Reach 577,000 574,000 -3,000 -0.5%
27% 27%
Total Hours 5,483,000 4,869,000 -614,000 -11.2%
Average Hours 9.5 8.5
Market Share 12.4% 11.3%
Chrysalis Radio Weekly Reach 1,098,000 1,102,000 4,000 0.4%
Midlands
32% 32%
Total Hours 12,158,000 11,508,000 -650,000 -5.3%
Average Hours 11.1 10.4
Market Share 15.5% 14.8%
Chrysalis Radio Weekly Reach 2,507,000 2,407,000 -100,000 -4.0%
London*
24% 23%
Total Hours 20,320,000 20,925,000 605,000 3.0%
Average Hours 8.1 8.7
Market Share 9.1% 9.5%
Total Heart Weekly Reach 2,801,000 2,881,000 80,000 2.9%
20% 21%
Total Hours 24,166,000 23,763,000 -403,000 -1.7%
Average Hours 8.6 8.2
Market Share 8.0% 7.9%
Galaxy Network Weekly Reach 2,269,000 2,239,000 -30,000 -1.3%
21% 21%
Total Hours 18,269,000 17,231,000 -1,038,000 -5.7%
Average Hours 8.1 7.7
Market Share 7.9% 7.4%
LBC News 1152 * Weekly Reach 482,000 447,000 -35,000 -7.3%
(News Direct 5% 4%
97.3FM)
Total Hours 2,182,000 4,057,000 1,875,000 85.9%
Average Hours 4.5 9.1
Market Share 1.0% 1.8%
LBC 97.3* Weekly Reach 377,000 441,000 64,000 17.0%
(LBC 1152AM) 4% 4%
Total Hours 4,751,000 3,256,000 -1,495,000 -31.5%
Average Hours 12.6 7.4
Market Share 2.1% 1.5%
Total LBC* Weekly Reach 836,000 712,000 -124,000 -14.8%
8% 7%
Total Hours 6,933,000 7,313,000 380,000 5.5%
Average Hours 8.3 10.3
Market Share 3.1% 3.3%
Total Chrysalis Weekly Reach 5,674,000 5,601,000 -73,000 -1.3%
Radio
25% 25%
Total Hours 50,273,000 48,221,000 -2,052,000 -4.1%
Average Hours 8.9 8.6
Market Share 10.3% 9.9%
Trading Hours 49,537,000 48,032,000 -1,505,000 -3.0%
All figures are Weeks 26-50 2002 Weeks 38 2002 -12 2003
All Adult 15+
RAJAR:
except * RAJAR: Weeks 38-50 2002 Weeks 2-12 2003
RAJAR
March 2002 Release March 2003 Release +/-
Heart 106.2* Weekly Reach 1,680,000 1,849,000 169,000 10.1%
16% 18%
Total Hours 14,037,000 13,612,000 -425,000 -3.0%
Average Hours 8.4 7.4
Market Share 6.0% 6.2%
100.7 Heart FM Weekly Reach 904,000 994,000 90,000 10.0%
26% 29%
Total Hours 8,816,000 10,085,000 1,269,000 14.4%
Average Hours 9.8 10.1
Market Share 11.1% 12.9%
Galaxy 102 Weekly Reach 428,000 415,000 -13,000 -3.0%
19% 18%
Total Hours 2,846,000 2,785,000 -61,000 -2.1%
Average Hours 6.6 6.7
Market Share 5.7% 5.9%
Galaxy 105* Weekly Reach 984,000 1,034,000 50,000 5.1%
23% 24%
Total Hours 8,719,000 7,945,000 -774,000 -8.9%
Average Hours 8.9 7.7
Market Share 9.4% 8.2%
Galaxy 102.2 Weekly Reach 292,000 245,000 -47,000 -16.1%
14% 12%
Total Hours 2,390,000 1,423,000 -967,000 -40.5%
Average Hours 8.2 5.8
Market Share 5.0% 3.0%
Galaxy 105-106 Weekly Reach 557,000 574,000 17,000 3.1%
26% 27%
Total Hours 4,779,000 4,869,000 90,000 1.9%
Average Hours 8.6 8.5
Market Share 10.5% 11.3%
Chrysalis Radio Weekly Reach 1,050,000 1,102,000 52,000 5.0%
Midlands
30% 32%
Total Hours 11,206,000 11,508,000 302,000 2.7%
Average Hours 10.7 10.4
Market Share 14.2% 14.8%
Chrysalis Radio Weekly Reach 2,304,000 2,407,000 103,000 4.5%
London*
22% 23%
Total Hours 21,256,000 20,925,000 -331,000 -1.6%
Average Hours 9.2 8.7
Market Share 9.1% 9.5%
Total Heart Weekly Reach 2,625,000 2,881,000 256,000 9.8%
19% 21%
Total Hours 22,854,000 23,763,000 909,000 4.0%
Average Hours 8.7 8.2
Market Share 7.3% 7.9%
Galaxy Network Weekly Reach 2,230,000 2,239,000 9,000 0.4%
21% 21%
Total Hours 18,899,000 17,231,000 -1,668,000 -8.8%
Average Hours 8.5 7.7
Market Share 7.9% 7.4%
LBC News 1152 * Weekly Reach 421,000 447,000 26,000 6.2%
(News Direct 4% 4%
97.3FM)
Total Hours 1,748,000 4,057,000 2,309,000 132.1%
Average Hours 4.2 9.1
Market Share 0.8% 1.8%
LBC 97.3* Weekly Reach 384,000 441,000 57,000 14.8%
(LBC 1152AM) 4% 4%
Total Hours 5,471,000 3,256,000 -2,215,000 -40.5%
Average Hours 14.2 7.4
Market Share 2.3% 1.5%
Total LBC* Weekly Reach 753,000 712,000 -41,000 -5.4%
7% 7%
Total Hours 7,219,000 7,313,000 94,000 1.3%
Average Hours 9.6 10.3
Market Share 3.1% 3.3%
Total Chrysalis Weekly Reach 5,421,000 5,601,000 180,000 3.3%
Radio
24% 25%
Total Hours 49,929,000 48,221,000 -1,708,000 -3.4%
Average Hours 9.2 8.6
Market Share 9.9% 9.9%
Trading Hours 48,806,000 48,032,000 -774,000 -1.6%
All figures are Weeks 38 2001-12 2002 Weeks 38 2002 -12 2003
All Adult 15+
RAJAR:
except * RAJAR: Weeks 2-12 2002 Weeks 2-12 2003
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
MSCUWARROBRVRAR
