Ofcom: report shows higher volume of radio listeners in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK

Listening to local radio in Northern Ireland is more popular than anywhere else in the UK, a new report from communications regulator Ofcom reveals today.

The industry body's latest Media Nations report shows that local radio accounts for 62.6% of total radio listening.

That is nearly twice the UK average (32.1%).

In addition, more than six in ten adults (63.9%) listen to local commercial radio at least once a week – higher than in England, Scotland, Wales and the UK as a whole.

With regard to news TV channels BBC One and UTV were the most popular sources about Northern Ireland with Downtown Radio & Cool FM (Bauer Media NI) also appearing in the top five most used news sources.

Elsewhere, the Grinch and police drama Blue Lights were the most watched programme or film in Northern Ireland last year.

In terms of podcasts, nearly one in five (19%) adults in Northern Ireland were found to listen to them at least once a week in quarter one of 2025.

However, this remains lower than the UK reach figure of 22.4%, and year-on-year growth in Northern Ireland has slowed again while other nations' have increased.

Jonathan Rose, Ofcom's Northern Ireland director, said the report illustrates the enduring popularity of local radio.

"People in Northern Ireland are spending more time than ever in front of their screens," he said.

"Broadcast TV remains popular but streamers like Amazon Prime Video and video-sharing platforms like YouTube are also now a firmly established part of our daily viewing diet.

"Our research also shows the enduring popularity of radio and especially local radio.

"Listeners in Northern Ireland have a real connection with local voices as well as news and views that reflects what's happening on their own doorstep."