Rajar reveals stations gaining ground on BBC.(share of listening, number of listeners for national networks, ranking of radio stations by share of listening)

Commercial radio has bucked the trend and gained ground on the BBC, according to the Rajar listening figures for the fourth quarter of 2002.

Over the previous two quarters, commercial radio saw its audience share remain static. However, the figures for the quarter ending December 2002 saw all commercial radio increase its share of listening by 0.9 per cent on last year to 45.5 per cent. Its reach also improved, from 31.8 million to 31.9 million.

Overall, there were mixed results for radio as a medium. While its weekly reach rose impressively year on year, from 44.2 million to 44.4 million, the average number of hours per listener dropped to 24.2 from 24.7.

Of the national networks, the hardest hit was Virgin Radio, which saw its share of listening tumble from 1.8 per cent to 1.6 per cent year on year, and its reach drop from 3.2 million to 2.8 million.

TalkSPORT's listening share remained static, quarter on quarter, but rose 0.1 per cent year on year to 1.7 per cent, cementing its lead over Virgin.

Classic FM enjoyed a 0.2 per cent rise in listening share, both quarter on quarter and year on year, to 4.7 per cent. However, like talkSPORT, it couldn't back this up with encouraging reach figures. Classic FM and talkSPORT saw their year-on-year reaches fall to 6.7 million and 2.4 million.

In London, 95.8 Capital FM had another torrid quarter. Its listening share of 8.8 per cent was unchanged from the third quarter but was down 2.1 per cent year on year. Its weekly reach fell to 2.5 million from 2.9 million. Its nearest rival, Heart 106.2, failed to take advantage of this; its listening share fell 0.3 per cent quarter on quarter and 0.2 per cent year on year to 6 per cent.