In terms of the overall health of the listening market within the local franchises, that figure varies considerably across the counties. In the OceanFM franchise – Donegal South/Sligo/Nth Leit – the listened to any radio yesterday figure is 95% whereas in the East Coast FM area, Wicklow, that figure plummets to 79%.
Many a thesis could be forwarded as to the difference in the listening base – but none to be found here. Of the 16 local stations, eleven saw a fall in their numbers. Tipp FM, Ocean FM, Midlands 103 all saw a 5% decline in numbers. Radio Kerry and KFM were the only real winners gaining 4% and 3% respectively. Maintaining its massive reach is still Highland Radio in Donegal.
But the ‘best in show’ this year goes to Radio Kerry who moved from #7 in the Local Radio League in 2009 to #2. I’d say the shareholders are delighted.
| Local – Listened Yesterday | 2010 | 2009 | +/- |
| % | % | ||
| Highland Radio | 67 | 68 | -1 |
| Radio Kerry | 51 | 47 | 4 |
| Limerick’s Live 95FM | 50 | 53 | -3 |
| Mid West Radio | 49 | 50 | -1 |
| WLR FM | 48 | 51 | -3 |
| Shannonside/Northern Sound | 47 | 50 | -3 |
| Clare FM | 46 | 45 | 1 |
| Tipp FM | 45 | 50 | -5 |
| Ocean FM | 42 | 47 | -5 |
| Galway Bay FM | 41 | 40 | 1 |
| KCLR 96FM | 39 | 42 | -3 |
| Midlands 103FM | 36 | 41 | -5 |
| South East Radio | 36 | 39 | -3 |
| East Coast FM | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| LM FM | 28 | 32 | -4 |
| KFM | 27 | 24 | 3 |
