RTÉ Radio 1 Maintains Dominance as JNLR Figures Show Mixed Results
RTÉ Radio 1 reaches 1.365 million weekly listeners, according to the latest Joint National Listenership Research (JNLR) figures. The broadcaster holds the country’s ten most-listened-to radio programmes, while the latest JNLR data—covering October 2025 to September 2026—reveals fluctuations across its schedule, rte.ie reported. Almost 3.5 million adults tune to radio every weekday, and a record 3.9 million people tune in every week. Patricia Monahan, Director of Audio at RTÉ, described the results as “very encouraging,” noting that “less than a year since the launch of the new schedule it’s fantastic to see that listeners are engaging with new voices and shows across the day.”
The national broadcaster’s flagship programme, Morning Ireland, remains the most popular radio show in Ireland, gaining 7,000 listeners to reach 464,000. Conversely, the afternoon programme Drivetime experienced a decline, losing 9,000 listeners to fall to 202,000. The Journal noted that this comes after a new schedule and presenting team were introduced for the programme last November.
Kieran Cuddihy’s Liveline Performance
Liveline, now hosted by Kieran Cuddihy, recorded an audience of 268,000, an increase of 14,000 listeners. Cuddihy, who succeeded Joe Duffy in November 2025, said he was “delighted” with the figures and credited the programme’s production team and listeners. While the show has seen recent growth, it remains below the 299,000 audience level recorded when Duffy signed off in 2025, as reported by The Journal. I’m just coming up on one full year in the job, and every day is different and exciting because Liveline is just such an incredibly unpredictable show,
Cuddihy said. But it’s great to see that it’s resonating with so many people around the country. And beyond the production team, that’s all down to the listeners who get in touch. Liveline is nothing without their stories.
Growth at Newstalk and Today FM
Commercial radio stations reported notable gains in the same period. Newstalk achieved its highest-ever weekly reach of 882,000 listeners, an increase of 27,000. Newstalk’s managing editor, Eric Moylan, called them excellent figures
that clearly shows that the new schedule is landing with the public.
The station’s performance was bolstered by a 12,000-listener boost for Claire Byrne’s mid-morning show, which now reaches 222,000 people. Today FM grew its weekly audience by 2,000 to reach 976,000.
Regional Radio Strength in Clare and Kilkenny
In Kilkenny and Carlow, KCLR reached 72,000 weekly listeners, with the station’s market share rising to 35.4%. KCLR’s Programming & Operations Manager Ken McGuire said, it’s another indicator that listeners, new and old, continue to place their trust in KCLR.
Clare FM also maintained its status as the primary station for County Clare, recording 54,000 weekly listeners. Programme Director Padraic Flaherty noted that the figures demonstrate the continued strength and popularity of the station’s programming, Clare FM reported.
Technological Shifts in Radio Consumption
While traditional broadcast remains the primary medium, digital consumption is rising. Connected devices now account for 12% of all radio listening, a figure that climbs to 19% among the 15–34 age demographic, KCLR 96FM stated. Smart speakers alone now represent 8% of total listening time across the country.
Performance Across the RTÉ Schedule
Elsewhere, Inside Sport gained 5,000 listeners to reach 88,000, and Arena increased by 3,000 to 45,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people listen to radio in Ireland every week?
According to the latest JNLR data, a record 3.9 million people tune into radio on a weekly basis, highlighting its continued status as a major daily habit.
What is the most popular age group for digital radio listening?
The 15–34 age demographic shows the highest engagement with connected devices, with 19% of their total radio listening coming through these digital platforms.
How does the current RTÉ schedule compare to last year?
RTÉ reported that while some programmes have seen declines, overall engagement remains “very encouraging” following the launch of a new schedule last November, which introduced new hosts across the daily lineup.
Keep reading