August marks a significant month of achievements for Midlands 103, our Irish radio station.
Celebrating record-breaking listenership figures, advancements in sustainability, and 20 years under Tindle’s ownership, the station is proving its ongoing commitment to excellence both on-air and off.
The latest Joint National Listenership Research (JNLR) report reveals that Midlands 103 has reached a new milestone with an average quarter-hour audience of 20,000 adults. This represents an impressive 11% increase in listenership this year and a remarkable 25% growth since 2022.
With a daily audience of 73,000 adults, Midlands 103 now boasts the strongest reach in spot advertising of any local station outside of Dublin and Cork.
In the same week as the JNLR results, Midlands 103 also published a performance review of its newly installed solar panel array at its Tullamore studio headquarters.
Exceeded expectations
The 20-kilowatt system generated 2,380 units of electricity in July, despite the mixed weather conditions. This resulted in a significant 64% reduction in electricity costs and the avoidance of CO2 emissions equivalent to burning one tonne of coal.
Will Faulkner, Managing Director of Midlands 103, expressed his enthusiasm for the station’s progress: “We initially projected a six-year payback on our Solar PV Project, but July’s performance has exceeded expectations.
“Even accounting for the extended daylight hours, it’s clear that our system will outperform forecasts and deliver annual returns of up to 25%. More importantly, this is a crucial step toward our goal of becoming a carbon-neutral broadcaster.
“Earlier this year, we also added our first zero-emissions-capable vehicle to our fleet and partnered with Certa Fuels to power our diesel vehicles with HVO biofuel, including Ireland’s first Green Energy Roadcaster.”
Adding to the celebrations, Midlands 103 marks 20 years under Tindle Group ownership, a partnership that has been instrumental in driving the station’s growth and success.
In recognition of its excellence, the station was recently fast-tracked for FM licence renewal by Ireland’s Media Commission, Coimisiún na Meán.