There was good news today for two of Dublin's newest and most troubled commercial radio stations. But the newcomer in the south east stole everyone's thunder, according to preliminary figures released today.
The latest JNLR/TNS mrbi interim analysis shows Newstalk 106 and Country 106.8 FM both doubled their listenership for the six months to September from two per cent to four per cent.
The youth-orientated station Spin 103.8 also put on two per cent increasing its overall listenership to five per cent.
However on a day overall radio listenership was down two per cent, Waterford-based Beat FM showed a listnership of 16 per cent after just three months on air.
The showing will be considered a triumph not only for the station's backers, who include Mr Vince Power of the Mean Fiddler group and U2's manager, Mr Paul McGuinness. It will also be welcome by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland as Beat FM is the first station in the State operating a regional licence.
The station's licensed coverage area takes in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and South Tipperary. Its programming is youth-orietated and its target audience is 15-34 year-olds.
The station's chief executive, Mr Kieran McGeary, said the figures were a compliment to his staff and "great news for advertisers who had supported the station before figures were available".
"We're delighted. After just three months on air and against a backdrop of recent radio station launches which were'nt as successful as hoped, it's absolutely superb," Mr McGeary said.
Staff at Newstalk 106 also have cause to feel pleased. The station has struggled to get listners and has been refinanced on two occasions since its launch.
Today a source welcomed today's figures saying they had given employees at the station a boost: "It's a good result as it more accurately reflects the effort and commitment staff at the station have shown over the past 18 months to make the station a success."
Country 106.8 FM, which has struggled to make an impact since its launch, will also welcome its showing but the news for most other national and local stations was not so good with audience losses at RTE, Today FM and local radio.
At RTE, Radio One was on 28 per cent (-1); 2FM was on 25 per cent (-2) and Lyric FM registered at three per cent (-1). The State's only independent national radio station Today FM fell to 15 per cent (-2).
There was little change among Dublin's big two stations with 98 FM (22) going up two and FM 104 (20) holding steady. However, there will be disappointment at Lite FM's new owners, UTV. The station fell five points to seven per cent.
Outside the capital there were more dramatic changes in fortunes. Galway Bay FM recorded a listenership of 43 per cent (-17). Beat FM's success was reflected in the south east by a 5 per cent fall off in South East Radio's figures and six per cent for Waterford station, WLR FM.
Cork's radio stations also suffered with 96FM/County Sound at 49 per cent (-6), and Red FM at 16 per cent (-4).