Radio Consumption During COVID-19
Great source of entertainment and trusted friend in the time of social distancing
Radio is the only media that combines live moderation, popular music and access to reliable information. In a state of emergency, the role of radio becomes even greater as it is a sure source of entertainment and promotes alternative modes of social communication.
Radio is one of the most comprehensive information channels, reaching as much as 89.9% of the country's population each month. As an interactive medium, often combined with daily activities, radio continues to be an active part of our daily lives.
Consumption of radio changed during COVID-19 as personal vehicles displaced urban transport and led to a steady all-day activity. The main and preferred mode of travel remained the private car, where the radio is a constant companion. However, according to studies, nearly 50% of employees are now working from home, which in turn increases radio listening by between 15% and 20%.
Consumption figures for N-JOY and bTV Radio, part of the bTV Radio Group, are no exception. Data by Gemius Prism indicates over 120% more traffic on N-JOY's online portal and over 85% increase in the online listening of bTV Radio listening compared to February.
Listener interest and activity in radio games increased 180% over the previous weeks. Since the middle of March, there has been a steady and increasing trend of interest in radio games. The registered participants are more than twice as much compared to similar activities in previous periods.
During a crisis, listening to radio increases as it continues to be a part of our daily lives, and in moments of isolation it is even more strongly perceived as a trusted friend. It is proven that radio elevates consumers' moods while working from home and keeps them updated with entertaining news, social initiatives and up-to-date information.
More interesting data on radio consumption and how radio can help advertisers during a crisis can be found here: https://bravo.btv.bg/web/bTV%20Radio%20Group_Radio%20Consumption%20During%20COVID-19_April%202020.pdf
Sources:
GARB, quantitative survey, target 18-69, January-June 2019
Pragmatica - Consumer Behavior During COVID-19 -
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52037461
http://www.bprworld.com/news/despite-the-pandemic-there-is-good-news-for-radio/
https://www.westwoodone.com/2020/03/17/new-study-the-state-of-the-american-worker-march-13-15-2020