08.05.2003 - Emap Delivers Digital Radio...
Emap grows commercial radio share from 12.9% to 14.1%

Emap was today celebrating the dawn of the digital radio age with
huge rises in listenership across its radio portfolio.

Kiss has gained 932,000 listeners in its first rajar as a national service taking its national reach to 2.4 million people a rise of 46 per cent (up from 1.6 million for Kiss 100 analogue in Q4 2002).

Smash Hits Radio, also reporting for the first time, has 759,000 listeners (15+).

Kerrang! Radio, also making its rajar debut has notched-up 771,000 listeners (15+).

OneNation, the Emap Advertising package comprised of Kiss, Smash Hits and Kerrang! analogue and digital services, has 3.3 million listeners making it the UK's second biggest commercial radio network.

Thanks to the performance of digital radio services, which are available on Freeview (digital terrestrial television), cable and DAB, Emap has grown its share of commercial radio from 12.9% to 14.1%.

Emap has also grown its listening hours by 9 per cent to 68.5 million, up from 62.8 million.

Tim Schoonmaker, chief executive of Emap Performance, said: "There is now a substantial commercial radio audience for digital radio services, kick-started by Emap's brands, cross-promotion and distribution on services such as Freeview.
"Television birthed the digital radio star."Emap Advertising is now gearing up to the May launch of a new sales team offering Emap radio brands Kiss, Kerrang! and Smash Hits, under the umbrella of OneNation, to advertisers to target under-35s nationally for the first time.

Emap Advertising Broadcast Director Tim Bleakley said: "OneNation incorporates all aspects of the under 35 market, covering the three tribes of pop, dance and rock audiences. It creates a completely new access point for advertisers who want national youth radio campaigns."

Kiss, Kerrang!, and Smash Hits are all available on Freeview (digital terrestrial television), DAB digital radio and NTL. Kiss is also available on Telewest as well as the flagship London-based FM analogue service.

Kiss radio alone is distributed nationally to 1.5 million Freeview (digital terrestrial television) homes, 3 million cable homes, on the web, and to 80 per cent of the UK's 350,000 DAB receivers. This is in addition to the Kiss 100 FM service, which is the number one station for 15-24's in London.

The Kiss digital service is a simulcast of the flagship London dance station Kiss 100, London's number one station for 15-24s. By day, listeners are entertained by a DJ line-up whose frisky on-air attitude matches their own outlook with multi-Sony-award winning Bam Bam starting every weekday with the Bam Bam Breakfast. By night, Kiss 100 serves up the most cutting edge and sought after names in their fields, including r&b, hip-hop, house and drum'n'bass with the likes of EZ, DJ Skully, Tom Stephan, Adam F, David Rodigan, Tall Paul and John Digweed.

Smash Hits plays the very best in chart hits and features the Smash Hits Chart presented by Mark Goodier every Sunday evening.

Kerrang! plays the soundtrack to the life is loud generation, championing the music found every week in Kerrang! magazine - the world's number one best selling music weekly - with artistes including The Foo Fighters, Marilyn Manson and Sum 41.