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Digital Radio Listening on the Rise in Australia

Australia’s digital-only radio stations attracted a weekly audience of 2.35 million in 2020, according to new GfK data released by industry body, Commercial Radio Australia (CRA).

This marks a 15% increase from 2.04 million in 2019, the data indicates.

When simulcasts from AM and FM stations were added to the mix, the 2020 DAB+ audience was 4 million.

Eleven commercial DAB+ stations ended the year with a national weekly audience above 100,000.

CRA chief executive officer, Joan Warner, noted the impact the car sales market had on the trend.

“DAB+ audiences have grown as a result of broadcasters enhancing their digital radio formats and car manufacturers continuing to add DAB+ radios to their vehicle ranges,” she said.

“Car sales recovered strongly in the last two months of last year as a result of consumers buying new vehicles for domestic road trips. This contributed to a total of 700,000 new vehicles with DAB+ on the road during 2020.”

Data from Glass’s Information Services shows 77% of new vehicles sold during the year were equipped with DAB+, and GfK’s point of sales report estimates that consumers purchased an additional 129,000 DAB+ receivers in 2020, bringing the total sales to 2.8 million since launch.

DAB+ is available in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart, Darwin, Canberra and Mandurah. Commercial broadcasters on the Gold Coast are working with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) on the roll-out.

CRA said the top-rating DAB+ stations include Coles Radio, ARN’s The 80s and The 90s, OldSkool Hits, Triple M Classic Rock, Smooth Relax, Edge Digital, Urban Hits, Triple M Country, 2CH and Buddha Hits.

Article first published by RadioToday. Read original here