Joan Warner: A year of change for Commercial Radio

Joan Warner has opened the National Radio conference this morning in Melbourne by highlighting a year of change in Commercial Radio.

Joan spoke of the introduction of new research methodology for Metropolitan ratings with the launch of the GFK partnership, which has been relatively seamless.

2014 has also seen new innovations including the introduction of AudioenScope, today sees the third release of the GfK AudioenScope research for the sector.

The last twelve months has also seen regional surveys also introduced to the sector, and Joan has congratulated the industry as a whole for its achievements in a tough market.

Metropolitan revenue figures are up marginally up for the year with the industry securing 8% of the advertising dollar.

Joan spoke of the achievements of DAB+ after 5 years on-air. There is now 2.9 million people now listening each week with 23% of all radio listening in all capital cities now from a DAB+ unit. Impressive.

Digital Radio for regional areas was also highlighted with the trials continuing in Canberra and Darwin and CRA has requested of the federal government that a joint planning group should be formed.

Today also sees the launch of CRA’s new marketing push “Radio it’s a love thing” which is voiced by The Chaser’s Andrew Hansen.