London - Aug 4, 2011 - According to Digital Radio UK, radio listeners' use of digital platforms is now at 26.9 percent of the total listening hours across the UK, based on the latest Q2 2011 RAJAR figures. Digital listening hours were at 289 million, up from 253 million hours in Q2 2010, an increase of 14.3 percent year on year.

Of all radio listeners, 46 percent now listen via a digital platform each week, an increase of 2.1 million people or 10.7 percent year on year. The share of all radio listening to DAB is now at 17.2 percent, up from 16.7 percent quarter on quarter and from 15.8 percent in Q2 2010. Listening to DAB accounts for 68.2 percent of digital listening. Ownership of DAB digital radios in the home has seen strong growth to almost 40 percent (38.9 percent), up from 35.3 percent since Q2 2010, an increase of 2 million adults.

Strong performances from digital-only stations include Absolute 80s, whose weekly reach is up by 43 percent quarter on quarter to 894,000; Jazz FM up 20 percent to 592,000; and Planet Rock up by 8 percent to 857,000. BBC Radio 4 Extra is now the UK's number one digital-only station, with a weekly reach of 1.6 million people.

Digital Radio UK works with government, broadcasters, manufacturers, retailers, and a wide range of stakeholders to accelerate digital listening, to enable the expansion of the digital radio platform, and to ensure that industry meets the consumer-led criteria to be achieved for a proposed radio switchover in the UK.