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Mobile reviving radio listening: TNS survey

Indiantelevision.com Team

(5 March 2008 7:00 pm)

NEW DELHI: At a time when FM technology is being credited for the revival of radio, research has shown that radio has seen a revival thanks to the mobile phone.

Mobile music applications are one of the fastest-growing mobile services, according to results of a global survey by TNS Global Technology.

In markets like India, a mobile phone without FM radio is difficult to sell, eMarketer reports TNS MD Matthew Froggatt as saying.

In 2007, the use of mp3 players on mobile phones increased 78 per cent; and listening to the radio on mobile phones was up 140 per cent.

In Latin America and Asia, 45 per cent of users said an AM/FM radio is one of the top features they are looking for when purchasing a mobile phone, which outranked SMS, internet access and even a camera.

In addition, 43 per cent of global mobile users listen to mobile music. It is especially popular among 16 to 21-year olds, with 66 per cent listening to mobile music; but 20 per cent of 51 to 60-year olds are also doing so.

"The radio is a hugely underrated media tool," said Froggatt. "This new outlet through mobile phones may help to sustain its life well into this millennium.”