Newstalk Hits Record Weekly Audience of 882,000
The station's market share rose to 8.3 percent, with nearly every program posting audience gains since the recent schedule change.
By Priya Marino ·
Newstalk has recorded its highest weekly audience in history, reaching 882,000 listeners in the latest Joint National Listener Research figures. This total marks an increase of 27,000 people compared to the previous reporting period. The station's daily audience also grew by 27,000, settling at 511,000 listeners.
The data shows that nearly every program on the station's schedule experienced audience growth. This surge in listenership follows a schedule refresh that was implemented eight months ago. Newstalk's share of the commercial radio market climbed to 8.3 percent, representing a year-on-year increase of 0.8 percent.
The Pat Kenny Show, which airs on weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., reached its highest levels in that specific slot. Saturday editions attracted 175,000 listeners, a gain of 8,000. Sunday editions drew 134,000 people, up by 12,000. Other weekend shows also posted record numbers. The Sunday edition of Off the Ball with John Duggan hit a new high of 162,000 listeners, an increase of 29,000. Tech Talk with Jess Kelly reached 101,000, up by 10,000, while Screentime with John Fardy hit a peak of 33,000.
Weekday programming also saw strong performance. The Claire Byrne Show gained 12,000 listeners in the past three months to reach 222,000. The Hard Shoulder with Ciara Kelly and Shane Coleman increased its audience by 17,000 to 170,000. Lunchtime Live with Andrea Gilligan rose by 11,000 to 126,000. The only program to see a decline was Newstalk Breakfast with Anton Savage, which lost 1,000 listeners to reach 167,000.
Eric Moylan, the station's Managing Editor, attributed the growth to the new lineup. He stated that the figures show the schedule is resonating with the public. Moylan noted that more people are tuning in across the entire week than at any point in the station's history. He credited the production teams and presenters for delivering content that engages and entertains.
The results confirm a broad expansion in listenership across all time slots. Growth was recorded from early morning through the afternoon drive home and into the weekend. The station now reports that its mission to cover stories that matter to its audience is being met by an expanding base of regular listeners.
