Ofcom has published its 2014 International Communications Market Report, which considers the audio and radio market in 18 countries. Worldwide radio revenues stood at £28.5 billion in 2013.
The report shows that radio earnings have increased for four consecutive years, and growth is being driven primarily by increases in advertising and subscription revenues. France had the highest revenue growth among countries with public radio license fees; Sweden was the only other comparator country to see growth in 2013 for both advertising and public radio license fee revenue.
On the other hand, radio revenues fell in Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom but the report said that this was offset by growth among the other comparator countries. Eleven of 18 comparator countries reported growth in revenue in 2013.
Digital radio stations were available in 12 of the 18 comparator countries in 2013 with the U.K. having the highest proportion of DAB digital radio stations (31 percent). Of the 12 countries to provide digital services in 2013, Spain had the smallest percentage of digital stations at 1 percent, it said.
