STV Radio has suffered a slight setback in its growth ambitions after its weekly audience fell in the latest quarter, although listeners are spending more time tuned in to the station.
The station, which launched in January, reached 131,000 listeners a week, according to official RAJAR figures, down from 139,000 in the previous three months. STV Radio has set itself a target of attracting 500,000 weekly listeners by 2030.
However, the figures offer some encouragement, with total listening hours rising by 12% to 1.4 million. This contrasts with a broader downward trend among Scotland’s top ten commercial radio stations.
The average listener now spends 11 hours a week tuned in to STV Radio, an increase of 18%. The station said the figures showed audiences were listening for longer and engaging more deeply with its blend of music, entertainment and banter.
STV Radio has also increased its share of the commercial radio market quarter-on-quarter. During its first nine months, it attracted 60 advertisers, including CR Smith, Tunnock’s and Barrhead Travel, alongside businesses new to STV.
BBC Radio Scotland also recorded a decline in its weekly audience, falling from 844,000 to 753,000 between the previous quarter and July to September this year — a drop of 10.8%. Its share of radio listening edged down from 5.7% to 5.3%.
The station had previously reached a peak audience of 921,000 at the start of 2026. However, the BBC does not publish individual audience figures for its programmes.
Elsewhere, Clyde 1’s weekly audience fell by 5.7%, from 687,000 to 648,000. Forth 1 moved in the opposite direction, increasing its audience by 11.5%, from 339,000 to 378,000.
Smooth Radio Scotland remained largely unchanged, slipping from 324,000 listeners to 323,000, a decline of just 0.3%.
Graham Bryce, managing director of STV Radio, said: “We’re thrilled that STV Radio has the most loyal listeners across the top 10 commercial radio stations, with people spending on average 11 hours a week with us.
“This tells us that listeners aren’t just trying the station, they’re coming back and making us part of their routine. For a station that only launched in January, that’s hugely encouraging.
“It’s early days for STV Radio, we’re off to a very strong start and are performing in line with expectations. We’re focused on continuing to grow our audience and winning new listeners with a brilliant mix of music, chat, competitions and nonsense with a tone and personality that reflects the lives of people here in Scotland.”