The Broadcasting Research Council in South Africa (BRC) revealed through their study which radio stations have the most popular listeners in 2016. The BRC compiled a list of the estimated listenership of 39 commercial radio stations and 233 community stations across the country , using a sample of 53 396 listeners.
Through their study is was also revealed radio is the most popular form of media in the country, where it is estimated that there are approximately 38.9 million radio listeners in South Africa.
The BRC said that 60 % of listeners live in urban areas and the rest of the listenership is divided equally 20 percent each, across small urban and rural areas .
These are top radio stations in South Africa:
1. Ukhozi FM
2. Umhlobo Wenene FM
3. Metro FM
4. Lesedi FM
5. Thobela FM
6. Motsweding FM
7. RSG
8. Gagasi FM
9. Jacaranda FM
10. Inkwekwezi FM
Here are interesting facts from according to the BRC’s findings:
- Sesotho and Swati listeners tune in the longest at four hours and 36 minutes. English listeners tune in for the shortest time at three hours and 12 minutes
- The most widely used device for listening to the radio are portable radios (76%), followed by cellphones (37%), car radio’s (26%), desktop computers (8%) and lastly laptops (2%)
- On average South Africans listen to the radio station for 4 hours and six minutes a day, followed by the Frees State that has the longest tune–in time of five hours and lastly Gauteng listeners have the shortest time of three and a half hours.
- Only 64% of listeners only listen to one radio station
