Australia - Radio - Statistics and Analyses

Synopsis

Radio remains a significant medium for advertisers and the public alike. Advertising revenue for radio has grown for four consecutive years, including a 5.8% growth in 2015/16. There is now a wider spectrum of channels available, ranging from radio over airwaves, to streaming on the internet or through digital radio. Smartphones are also an increasingly utilised device for listening to radio, and in early 2016 the world’s first smartphone (the LG Stylus DAB+) with built-in broadcast digital radio was made available in Australia.

There is also Consolidation within the market continues as radio companies merge or succumb to acquisitions. This particularly affects regional radio stations as the larger players push to gain a greater share of the nationwide retransmission market.

Although the advertising base is growing, the radio market continues to lose overall share to other new and emerging media sectors. While radio is still available over AM and FM frequencies, and almost three-quarters of all radio is commercially operated, other technologies including digital radio, podcasting and converged multi-media technologies are offering new revenue opportunities, threats and challenges. Many stations, including regional radio stations, have stopped online broadcasting streams due to the additional online streaming licensing charges.

The major commercial radio broadcasters include the ARN, Southern Cross Media, Nova, MRN, Fairfax Media and Grant Broadcasters. Radio networks have established metropolitan and regional footprints through aggregation, and together these networks account for around 75% of the market. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation accounts for almost all of the remaining radio audience.

This report provides statistics on radio usage patterns, including revenue streams, a radio history timeline, and an overview of the major players. For information on Digital Radio, see the separate report Australia - Radio - Digital Radio.

Key developments:

Revenue, market share, radio broadcasting, podcasting, media, funding for community radio, online streaming ceases for many stations, broadcasting legislation, studies from Nielsen, Commercial Radio Australia; Community Broadcasting Program to be hit by continued drop in funding in the 2016/17 Federal Budget, radio advertising revenue increased 5.9% in 2015/16; Austereo partners with the Seven Network to launch a DAB+ pop-up station for the Olympic Games.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Austereo, Fairfax, ABC, Grant Broadcasters, Australian Radio Network, Southern Cross Media, DMG Radio Australia, PPCA, Localworks, Macquarie Radio Network, Nova, Super Radio Network, community radio broadcasters, SBS, Smart Radio Network, indigenous radio.