BBC Radio 2 has lost half a million listeners since it controversially shook up its weekday schedule.
The station had an estimated weekly audience of 12.62million across April to June, figures show, down from 13.11million in the previous three months and from 13.3million this time last year.
Scott Mills replaced Zoe Ball as host of the flagship breakfast show in the revamp, which also saw Trevor Nelson given a new afternoon show and DJ Spoony present a late evening Monday to Thursday slot.
It is the lowest total for Radio 2 since the method of measuring listeners was introduced by the Radio Joint Audience Research in 2021, following a break during the Covid pandemic.
Ms Ball left as breakfast host in January after nearly six years, with Gaby Roslin and Mark Goodier filling in until Mr Mills took over. It saw her salary of £950,000 drop to £515,000 in the latest yearly figures.
The breakfast show had an average weekly audience of 6.22million in the three months to June, down from 6.45million in January to March.
BBC Radio 2 has lost half a million listeners since it controversially shook up its weekday schedule (Scott Mills pictured)
Scott Mills replaced Zoe Ball (pictured) as host of the flagship breakfast show in the revamp, which also saw Trevor Nelson given a new afternoon show and DJ Spoony present a late evening Monday to Thursday slot.
Radio 2’s weekly audience has now fallen by nearly 2million in three years, from an average of 14.53million in April-June 2022 – though it remains comfortably the UK’s most popular radio station.
Radio 2 challenger Boom Radio, aimed at baby boomers and is now is now the UK’s fastest growing commercial station, has recorded a record 711,000 weekly listeners after Ofcom this month blocked BBC attempts to launch a copycat Radio 2 spin-off station.
Zoe announced in November that she was leaving her Radio 2 Breakfast Show host to ‘focus on family’.
The broadcaster, who had taken a mysterious six week absence hosting last summer, shares Woody, 23, and Nelly, 14, with ex husband Norman Cook.
Speaking about her departure on her show, Zoe said: ”After six years of fun times alongside you all on the breakfast show, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.’
The veteran presenter said she was ‘thrilled’ to reveal her good friend Mill, as her replacement, telling listeners: ‘Scott and I go way back to our Radio 1 days, when he was doing early mornings before me. He’s been a close friend for years, and I’m beyond thrilled it’s him taking over the Breakfast Show.
‘Breakfast has always been his dream, and what a year he’s had – from racing around the world to his beautiful wedding to Sam. He’s not only a blooming brilliant producer but one of the best in radio. I can’t wait to tune in on the school run!’.
It comes after Ofcom raised concerns with the BBC that the plans for a new station could have a significant adverse effect on competition.
It is the lowest total for Radio 2 since the method of measuring listeners was introduced by the Radio Joint Audience Research in 2021, following a break during the Covid pandemic Pictured are presenters Vernon Kay (left) and Scott Mills (right)
Ms Ball left as breakfast host in January after nearly six years, with Gaby Roslin and Mark Goodier filling in until Mr Mills took over. It saw her salary of £950,000 drop to £515,000 in the latest yearly figures
Radio 2 challenger Boom Radio, aimed at baby boomers, has recorded a record 711,000 weekly listeners after Ofcom this month blocked BBC attempts to launch a copycat Radio 2 spin-off station
The BBC unveiled plans for the new spin-off station in February which will focus on the music of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
This would have come months ahead of the launch of the fully-fledged digital radio station, which is subject to a different regulatory process, including a ‘Public Interest Test’ consultation.
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New Radio 2 spin-off nostalgia station is blocked by Ofcom amid fears it will hit commercial rivals
Online stations are not subject to the same scrutiny as proper DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) stations.
This sparked alarm among commercial rivals that the corporation was planning to plough ahead with the station on BBC Sounds before the plans were properly tested.
But it is understood that Ofcom has now blocked the imminent launch of the station on BBC Sounds and directed the corporation to include the online plans in the Public Interest Test.
This comes after an internal review by the BBC had reportedly found that the online launch would not have a significant adverse effect on fair and effective competition.
Commercial radio stations have complained to both Ofcom and the broadcaster about the plans and about the potential lack of scrutiny over the online launch.
There are concerns it would target the listeners of stations like Boom Radio, Greatest Hits and Absolute.
Zoe announced in November that she was leaving her Radio 2 Breakfast Show host to ‘focus on family’
The broadcaster, who had taken a mysterious six week absence hosting last summer, shares Woody, 23 (left) and Nelly, 14, with ex husband Norman Cook (centre)
Phil Riley, co-founder of Boom Radio, which has successfully appealed to disaffected Radio 2 listeners, said he was ‘delighted’ Ofcom was telling the BBC to scrutinise the first stage of the launch.
He said: ‘Our view has always been that this service, even if only delivered on BBC Sounds, represents unfair competition to our fledgling station, with huge risks to our future.
‘It deserves the detailed scrutiny that only a full Public Interest Test and subsequent Ofcom BBC Competition Assessment can bring.’
He said the BBC had produced ‘scant evidence’ of the ‘public value’ of the plans and ‘is not what the BBC should be doing’.
An Ofcom spokeman said: ‘We will publish our decision in the coming days on whether the BBC’s plans require a public interest test.’
A BBC spokesman said: ‘We are surprised to hear commercial radio’s comments on what they understand to be Ofcom’s decision before this has been published.
‘We are respectfully following the right regulatory processes in line with the Charter, Agreement and Ofcom regulation.
‘This includes running a detailed Public Interest Test for our music extensions and having an ongoing dialogue with the music industry, Ofcom and our radio industry colleagues. Our plans are distinctive and measured, offering more choice and value to licence fee payers and doing so in a way only the BBC can.’
According to sources spin-offs plans for Radio 1 and Radio 3 spin-offs on BBC Sounds have been given the go-ahead.