The latest JNLR figures showed gains for a number of RTE shows and losses on Today FM and Newstalk
Brendan O'Connor gained more than 40,000 listeners across his two weekend shows, the latest Joint National Listenership Research figures have revealed. The TV host presents two radio shows on Saturdays and Sundays.
According to the latest JNLRs, O'Connor gained 16,000 listeners to his 358,000-strong Saturday show, while an extra 27,000 listeners tuned into his Sunday show, which now has 366,000 listeners. Meanwhile, Miriam O'Callaghan's Sunday morning weekend radio show gained 4,000 listeners, leaving the PrimeTime host with a listenership of 304,000 overall. Over at RTÉ Radio 1, Oliver Callan gained 11,000 listeners in the latest quarter. He's now one year at the station hosting his morning radio show after taking over the slot from Ryan Tubridy. Tubridy's Dublin Q102 radio show broadcasts now to 37,000 listeners around Dublin, gaining 3,000 people. It is not known how many listen to his Virgin Radio show in London. His former Radio 1 colleagues at Morning Ireland gained 1,000 listeners, leaving them with 466,000 overall, while Claire Byrne gained 7,000 listeners as 349,000 are now tuning in. Louise Duffy gained 5,000 listeners, bringing her to 228,000 in total, while News at One gained 5,000 people, broadcasting to 307,000 daily. Joe Duffy's Liveline now has 314,000 listeners, gaining 7,000 in the latest quarter, while Ray D'Arcy now has 6,000 extra listeners with a total of 194,000 tuning in. Drivetime gained 5,000 listeners and now has an audience of 226,000 in the afternoons. Over at 2FM, Breakfast gained 10,000 new listeners since the departure of Doireann Garrihy and Donncha O'Callaghan. Carl Mullan and Aifric O'Connell now have 152,000 listeners. Laura Fox has 131,000 listeners after a drop of 2,000 in the latest quarter, while Tracey Clifford is also down 2,000, leaving her with 117,000. The departure of The 2 Johnnies left no mark on the station, with the slot broadcasting to 145,000 listeners daily - the same numbers as the last quarter. An RTÉ insider said: "The slot is in good shape for when Doireann Garrihy takes over later this month. It's a good launching pad for that slot." There were also surprise gains at Montrose as JNLR figures showed Marty Whelan's Lyric FM slot increasing in popularity. In one year, he has gained an extra 15,000 listeners. He now broadcasts to 77,000 people, which includes an extra 3,000 he gained in the last quarter. Speaking on the latest figures, Patricia Monahan, Director of Audio, RTÉ said: “This is a great result for RTÉ positioning us as the most listened to radio group in Ireland and demonstrating the reach and relevance of our services to Irish audiences. "RTÉ Radio 1 now reaches 1.3 million listeners every week with gains of 24,000 listeners year-on-year. RTÉ 2FM has a weekly reach of 769,000, an increase of 29,000 listeners year-on-year. RTÉ lyric fm now reaches 323,000 listeners every week. "We are privileged that so many people choose to engage with our stations and are particularly delighted to welcome an increase in 15 to 34-year-old listeners across all our services. RTÉ Radio 1 remains the most popular station in Ireland with audience gains throughout the day and weekend, 2fm is now the leading station for 15 to 34-year-olds and we will continue to deliver engaging and entertaining content for that audience as we bring our new 2FM schedule to air in the coming weeks. Meanwhile on lyric fm the combination of new voices and lyric fm stalwarts is clearly resonating with audience as it continues to grow.” Over at Today FM, Ian Dempsey's Breakfast show lost 7,000 listeners and he now has 202,000 listeners daily. Dave Moore lost 11,000 since Dermot Whelan's departure, while Louise Cantillon lost 8,000, leaving her with 121,000. Ray Foley lost 5,000 listeners in the latest quarter. He now has 164,000 listeners, while Matt Cooper remains steady with 167,000. Fyona Smith, Managing Editor of Today FM said: “As expected, the loss of our record-breaking book has had an impact on our numbers. However, we remain focused on our audience and want to thank those joining us each day. “Our Q4 results highlight Today FM’s continued strength, reaching an impressive 953,000 listeners each week. Competing at a national level means we always set ambitious goals, and the team are looking forward to what's next. James Brownlow, Managing Editor Music & Entertainment said: "In a period defined by some of the most pivotal news and current affairs moments in Ireland and across the globe, Today FM’s top-line performance held strong. From Matt Cooper’s razor-sharp analysis to Louise Cantillon’s fresh energy and the electric pulse of Block Rockin’ Beats on their weekend, the listeners showed appreciation and still held Today FM up as Ireland’s leading music and entertainment destination." Over at Newstalk, Pat Kenny now has 237,000 listeners after losing 4,000 listeners, while Newstalk Breakfast lost 3,000 listeners. The programme now has 163,000 listeners. Newstalk's Lunchtime Live gained 5,000 listeners to their 139,000-strong listenership, while Moncrieff gained 7,000 and now has 112,000 listeners overall. The Hard Shoulder now has 150,000 listeners after losing 2,000 in the last quarter. Eric Moylan, Managing Editor of Newstalk, said: “Today’s figures show the impressive growth achieved by Newstalk in 2024. Our strategy of engaging the public in the stories, discussions and conversations that count for them is really paying dividends. “Be it a general election, a major gig, the latest parenting advice or debating how to improve work/life balance, we’re talking to our audience about the stories that matter to them. This set of results gives a great start point to 2025 as we look to continue the growth delivered by our hard-working teams.” CEO of Bauer Media Audio Ireland Chris Doyle said: "We’re delighted that the latest JNLR latest results show us consolidating our position as the largest radio group in Ireland across the key audience metrics, as we continue to expand our reach. “Thanks to the hugely talented teams across Bauer for their dedication and drive. We have huge ambitions for 2025, and we look forward to exciting and entertaining audiences, creating great audio that people want to spend time with.” Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Please follow us on Google to support usIreland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kerry vs Donegal: Can O'Connor's youthful side withstand the test?Kerry host Donegal in a clash between two giants of Gaelic football. Can Kerry's new-look side, bolstered by the return of Michael Murphy, overcome the challenge posed by a Donegal team eager to prove themselves in Division 1?
Read more »
Brendan Rodgers' Success at Celtic: A Deeper LookThis article examines Brendan Rodgers' tenure at Celtic, highlighting his Champions League successes, his contrasting style compared to Ange Postecoglou, and the unique dynamics with the Celtic fanbase. It also explores Rodgers' past experiences at Liverpool and Leicester, analyzing the reasons behind his departures.
Read more »
Brendan Rodgers hoping Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney will rejoin Celtic in daysDeal done for left back to go back to Scotland in summer
Read more »
Cork Hurler Ben O'Connor Sees No Downsides to League Title PursuitCork hurler Ben O'Connor believes that there are no downsides to the team aiming for a League title in 2025, ending their long drought that stretches back to 1998. O'Connor emphasizes the value of competitive matches and sees no issue with prioritizing the League ahead of the Championship. He points out that the timing of the League final, two weeks before the Munster Championship opener, allows for sufficient preparation and even provides an opportunity to blood new players.
Read more »
Cork Hurler Ben O'Connor: 'There's Definitely Something to Be Said About Winning the League'Ben O'Connor believes Cork hurlers should aim for the Allianz Hurling League title this year, emphasizing the value of competitive games and a settled team.
Read more »
Radio Listenership Soars to Record Levels in IrelandThe general election in Ireland boosted radio listenership across the country, leading to record audience numbers. RTÉ Radio 1 and local and regional stations saw significant growth, with Brendan O'Connor's weekend program emerging as the most popular. Despite an overall slight decline in market share, RTÉ Radio 1 remained the dominant force, while RTÉ 2FM and Bauer Media Audio stations experienced mixed results. The JNLR survey revealed a thriving radio landscape in Ireland, with 3.9 million people tuning in weekly.
Read more »