Community Radio Sector begins audience research project

After a decade of growth and the possibility of new licences plateauing with the ABA’s decision this week on analogue licences, the Community Radio Sector is planning to take stock of its audience with a national survey.

The survey project is currently out to tender (see link below). The project will begin in November 2003 and be completed in 12 months.

The CBAA says that the sector has “identified the need for more specific research on Community Broadcasting audiences which will give community broadcasting the opportunity to present credible nationwide listening figures to tie in with lobbying, sponsorship and publicity campaigns.”

Funding for the national audience research project has been provided by the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA) through the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF).

The project will “develop an accurate and comprehensive picture of the size and characteristics of community radio listeners in Australia” with a particular focus on regional areas.

So far 11 research companies have expressed some form of interest in the tender process.