Radio is alive and well
The popularity of radio listening in Finland remains strong, with over four million Finnish citizens tuning in weekly.
In Finland, the love for radio continues to flourish, as evidenced by statistics from the National Radio Survey conducted by Finnpanel. Last year, over four million Finns listened to the radio at least once a week, indicating a stable reach of over 80 percent of the population in the average week. The data reveals that commercial radios attracted an audience of 3.4 million, while the national broadcaster Yle reached around 2.3 million listeners. The peak listening time occurs at 9 AM when nearly a million Finns are tuned in, showcasing the medium's significance in daily life, especially during morning hours.
On an average day, individuals in Finland listen to the radio for slightly more than two hours, typically choosing one or two stations for their listening pleasure. Among various demographics, those aged over 55 exhibit the highest rate of radio consumption, averaging about three and a half hours daily. The preferences regarding where people listen to the radio show a distinct pattern, with homes being the primary location, followed by cars and workplaces, illustrating how integrated radio is into everyday activities.
Among the channels, Ylen Radio Suomi leads with a weekly reach of 30 percent of the population, making it the most popular choice for listeners. Following in the rankings is Radio Nova, along with Ylen Radio 1 taking the third spot. The fondness for radio is further augmented by the emergence of podcasts, indicating a diversification in audio content consumption among Finnish audiences, tethering traditional radio with modern listening habits.