Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

• Sony Station of the Year passes two million mark
• Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio attracting more listeners
• Radio 4 draws 10 million
• Radio 1 adds 660,000 and Radio 5 Live puts on 400,000 in year

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3 has attracted its biggest audience for over two years, increasing its reach to more than two million listeners shortly after being named Station of the Year at the Sony Awards.

The network – currently offering extensive coverage of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Proms – grew its weekly reach to 2.02 million in Quarter 2 2009, according to data released today by RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research Ltd), continuing a successful year that has brought both popularity and plaudits.

During the measurement period (30 March to 28 June), the network showcased three of its four Composers Of The Year – Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn – and launched a Poetry Season which included more than 40 contemporary poems read by their authors in Breakfast and a full day celebrating Shakespeare's sonnets, read by Sir Ian McKellen.

The station's success was recorded against a backdrop of growing audiences for all Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio – this quarter's total of 34.01 million listeners is the second highest 'All Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio' reach since new research methodology was introduced in January 1999.

The data also shows Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4's reach nudged 10 million after attracting around 465,000 new listeners in the past year, while Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔΜύRadio 1 and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 Live added 660,000 and 400,000 listeners respectively in the same period.

Tim Davie, Director, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Audio & Music, said: "Radio 3 is a unique radio station with an unrivalled role in supporting music and the arts in the UK.

"I am delighted to see it follow its Sony Award with a strong performance that illustrates the public's enduring appetite for distinctive, high quality broadcasting."

All Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio now has a reach of 34.01 million (from 33.32m last year and 33.81m last quarter) and a share of 54.63% (from 55.5% last year and 56.3% last quarter).

Radio 1's weekly reach of 11.34 million is up on the year (10.68m) and the quarter (11.07m), while its share of 10.3% is also up on the year (10%) and level with the previous quarter.

The Chris Moyles Show has 7.72 million listeners – up from 7.21 million last year and 7.70 million last quarter.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2 has 13.42 million listeners – up on 13 million last year and steady on 13.46 million last quarter. Share, at 15.5%, is down with the year (16%) and the quarter (15.9%).

Wake Up To Wogan has 7.93 million listeners tuning in each week, from 7.77 million last quarter and 7.75 million last year.

Radio 3's reach rose to 2.02 million, from 1.91 million last year and 1.99 million last quarter. Share is 1.2% – from 1.1% last quarter and 1.2% last year.

Radio 4's reach rose to 10 million listeners, up from 9.53 million last year and 9.98 million last quarter. Its share is 12.1% from 12% last year and 12.5% last quarter.

The Today programme has a weekly reach of 6.51 million listeners, from 6.26 million last year and 6.69 million last quarter.

Radio 5 Live and its digital service 5 Live Sports Extra recorded a combined reach of 6.52 million – the networks' biggest combined audience for seven years and up on last year's combined total (6.12m) and on last quarter (6.32m). Joint share remains steady at 4.7%, from 4.8% last year and last quarter. 5 Live Sports Extra has a weekly reach of 676,000.

In digital-only services, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 1Xtra's reach is up nearly 150,000 on the year to 634,000, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 6 Music has 595,000 listeners, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 7 is slightly down on last quarter with 834,000 listeners and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Asian Network is slightly up on the quarter with 421,000 listeners.

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service has a weekly reach to 1.44 million – from 1.31 million last year and 1.47 million last quarter.

Notes to Editors

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Publicity