BBC Sounds on the up as digital listening continues to grow
The latest audience listening figures released today show that BBC Sounds had 622 million plays of all content across radio, podcasts and music mixes from July to September.
This is up 14 million plays on the previous quarter and an increase of more than 3% from the same period last year, as digital listening continues to grow.
Industry body, RAJAR shows that in Q3 2024 there were 10.8 million signed-in BBC Sounds accounts with a weekly average of 4.7 million users across the mobile app, website, TV and voice activated devices. Data shows there was a total of 226 million plays of on-demand radio and podcast content.
Interest in news was high this quarter, with Newscast and Americast the top two podcasts on BBC Sounds. The curated Latest News Playlist also performed well with younger listeners, with Latest Headlines from BBC News the seventh most listened to on-demand programme for listeners under 35, also driven by smart speaker requests.
Once again, Radio 4 content dominated the podcast chart on BBC Sounds. New audio drama Central Intelligence boosted listeners of the Limelight drama podcast, making it the third-most popular podcast of the quarter, followed by You’re Dead to Me and investigative Radio 4 podcast strand Intrigue, which recently received Prix Italia and Prix Europa awards for To Catch a Scorpion.
Q3 on BBC Sounds:
- Newscast and Americast were the top two most listened to podcasts on BBC Sounds, with Newscast also taking the top spot for listeners under 35, followed by You’re Dead to Me and Miss Me?
- Radio 4’s Limelight drama strand was the third most listened to podcast with series including Central Intelligence featuring Kim Cattrall, and 11 Minutes Dead.
- Radio 4’s The Archers remains the most listened to on-demand radio programme for all adults again this quarter (including for under 35s), followed by Whodunnits on Radio 4 Extra and Desert Island Discs.
- Radio 4 comedy performed well with Mark Steel’s in Town, The Unbelievable Truth and The News Quiz all appearing in the top 10 on-demand radio programmes.
- Radio 1 programming had the highest percentage of listeners aged under 35. Shows such as Radio 1 10’s and Radio 1 00’s proved the most popular, followed by Radio 1’s Giant Detention which saw Greg James and fellow presenter ‘class-mates’ trapped in detention to playfully mark the return of the academic year.
- BBC Proms also ranked among the top 10 on-demand programmes for the under 35 age group, driven by special concerts from Florence + the Machine and Sam Smith. Overall there was a 12% yearly increase for Proms listeners on BBC Sounds.
- Music mixes provided relaxation as well as motivation. The Sleeping Forecast continued to be the most listened to music mix, followed by the Mindful Mix. Fans of nostalgia tuned in to Sounds of the 90s with Fearne Cotton which was the third most popular, followed by running playlist Pace Setter with highlights including motivational tunes curated by McFly drummer Harry Judd.
- At the end of August, Oasis-mania swept across the UK as the band announced their reunion tour, and The Rise and Fall of… from 6 Music made an appearance in the Top 10 on-demand podcasts, as Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq delved into the story behind the band.
- There was a total of 213 million downloads for BBC podcasts around the world this quarter, up by 4 million from Q2. The Global News Podcast from BBC World Service was the most popular title on third party platforms, followed by Newscast and The Documentary Podcast. Other popular programmes in the top ten included 6 Minute English, In Our Time and Desert Island Discs.
Jonathan Wall, Director of BBC Sounds: “I’m so pleased to see how much our audiences have enjoyed a Tour de Force live events summer, as well as some of our new On Demand treats. From Elections to Olympics, and from the Proms to the Rise and Fall of.. Oasis, its been action packed.
“We have delivered exciting new innovations like our pop up Election 24 hour stream, and launched bold new podcasts like Central Intelligence to excite listeners.”
Source: Piano Analytics 01.07.24 – 29.09.24