RNZ National has become the first New Zealand radio station to record more than 700,000 different listeners each week in a nationwide GfK radio industry survey.*
File photo. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
The survey results showed that typically 826,500 New Zealanders or 16.9 percent of the 10-plus population are tuned in to RNZ radio each week - an increase of 66,200 on the previous survey.
RNZ Concert has also shown growth and is now listened to by 260,900 people, or an increase of 18,300 since the last survey.
Among all radio listening in New Zealand, RNZ National has a market share of 13 percent of the 10-plus population and a cumulative audience of 703,000 listeners - an increase of 48,700 compared to the last survey, and 103,000 year on year.
RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson said it was clear that radio as a medium was thriving and continued to play an essential role in the lives of New Zealanders.
"Our RNZ audience results are an emphatic reinforcement of the importance of quality independent journalism, so essential to informing, engaging and uniting New Zealanders in challenging and confronting times," he said.
"In a crisis people turn to trusted media. RNZ's independent public media channels have again proved their worth and this is reflected in the outstanding radio listenership data released today."
RNZ has also achieved significant growth across digital channels with three out of five New Zealanders now consuming RNZ content each week.**
Weekly numbers peaked at 3.3 million during March lockdown and remain consistently above last year's levels.
*Source: GfK Radio Audience Measurement, All Radio Stations, Total New Zealand - RNZ - S3 2020, All 10+, Mon-Sun 12mn-12mn, Cume ('000's) unless otherwise stated. Comparisons made with S1 2020 - due to COVID-19 disruptions there was no S2 2020. Year on year comparisons with S3 2019 (NB Waikato S3 2017). Historical data available on request.
* *Source: Colmar Brunton Value Indices research July 2020 All people 18+
