(3 May 2008 5:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Digital listening has helped lift BBC Radio's reach and share to record levels, according to data released by Radio Joint Audience Research.

The figures – covering the period from 31 December 2007 to 23 March 2008 – show BBC Radio now reaches 34.22 million people every week and comprises a 56.8 per cent share of all listening hours.

They also reveal that listeners are increasingly tuning into BBC radio stations digitally.

More than 10 million people listen to BBC radio via digital platforms every week – 6.4 million on DAB – consuming 100 million hours of BBC radio through DAB sets, digital TV and the Internet, the vast majority via DAB (71 million hours).

At the same time, the BBC's digital-only services continue to grow: the portfolio reaches 2.92 million people per week; every station now has more than half a million listeners; and BBC 6 Music, 1Xtra and the BBC Asian Network all posted record figures.

BBC Radio 1 attracted more than 11 million listeners per week in a quarter rich in specialist music – from guest presenters on Zane Lowe to the dance music event Bloc Weekender.

The quarter also featured the Body Image social action campaign. The network added more than half a million listeners on the year and now has a reach of 11.07 million. It has a share of 10.6 per cent, up from 10.1 per cent last year and 10.3 per cent last quarter.

BBC Radio 2 has a record 13.63 million listeners and remains the UK's most popular station, offering a daytime line-up complemented by a range of specialist and live music programming.

Its reach is up 380,000 on the year (13.25 million) and more than 800,000 on last quarter (12.82 million). The network also posted record share of 16.5 per cent, up from 15.8 per cent last year and 15.7 per cent last quarter.

The BBC Asian Network is the third digital-only network with a record quarter. It has 535,000 listeners – up on both year and quarter.