
The commercial stations continue to dominate the Polish radio market. RMF FM, enjoying consistently high popularity, recorded a daily reach of 17.6%, meaning over 5.6 million Poles tune in daily. Radio ZET ranked second with a reach of 10.6% (3.4 million listeners), followed by Eska at 5.5% (1.75 million listeners).
Interestingly, RMF FM maintains its lead across all age groups, establishing itself as the absolute market leader. Among younger audiences (15–29 years), Eska holds a strong position, thanks to its music format appealing to youth.
Listenership Figures:
- RMF FM – 17.6%, 5,609,817 listeners
- Radio ZET – 10.6%, 3,397,017 listeners
- Eska – 5.5%, 1,751,895 listeners
- Jedynka Polskiego Radia – 2.1%, 670,000 listeners
- Radio Maryja – 1.3%, 415,000 listeners
Listener Demographics: Who Tunes In?
The study shows radio listenership varies by age, gender, and location. Men prefer RMF FM (19.8%) more often than women (15.5%), likely due to its informational and musical programming. Eska attracts younger listeners, with 10.6% of 15–29-year-olds regularly tuning in.
Among listeners aged 65+, Jedynka Polskiego Radia (8.6%) and Radio Maryja (4.5%) enjoy the most interest. Older audiences appreciate these stations` traditional approach and focus on educational and religious content.
Daily Reach of Stations by Age Group:
Radio Station | 15–29 years | 30–49 years | 65+ years |
---|---|---|---|
RMF FM | 15.4% | 20.5% | 11.4% |
Radio ZET | 7.2% | 11.7% | 8.7% |
Eska | 10.6% | 7.2% | 1.1% |
Jedynka PR | 0.8% | 1.9% | 8.6% |
Radio Maryja | 0.0% | 1.2% | 4.5% |
TOK FM | 2.4% | 4.7% | 1.8% |
Radio WAWA | 4.1% | 2.6% | 0.5% |
Chillizet | 3.8% | 2.1% | 0.3% |
Polskie Radio 24 | 1.2% | 1.6% | 3.2% |
Average Listening Time
Radio remains a key companion medium, with an average listening time of 120–150 minutes daily. RMF FM also leads here, with 145 minutes per day. Older audiences stay loyal to Radio Maryja, which achieves an impressive 146 minutes. Eska has seen a drop to 112 minutes, likely reflecting changing habits among youth, who increasingly opt for music streaming services.
Listening Time Data:
- RMF FM – 145 minutes
- Radio Maryja – 146 minutes
- Radio ZET – 138 minutes
- Eska – 112 minutes
Digitization and Emerging Trends
The evolving landscape of Polish radio media reflects the rising popularity of digital platforms. Music streaming, podcasts, and radio apps attract more users, particularly younger audiences. 67% of respondents aged 15–29 use mobile apps to listen to radio, marking a 12-percentage point increase from 2023.
A digital success story is TOK FM, which has expanded its podcast offerings, achieving a 15% growth in subscription revenues within a year. By contrast, Polskie Radio struggles with technological limitations, hindering its digital transformation potential.
Medium | Growth in 2024 | Popularity among 15–29 years |
---|---|---|
Mobile Apps | +12 p.p. | 67% |
Podcasts | +15% | 54% |
Radio Streaming | +8% | 48% |
Rising competition from streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube pushes radio stations to explore new formats and engagement strategies. RMF FM invests in live interactive broadcasts, enabling listeners to participate via mobile apps. Eska experiments with hybrid formats combining radio and social media, aiming to attract younger audiences.
Smaller stations like Radio Maryja focus on maintaining loyal listeners by targeting niche content. However, a lack of technological investment may limit their ability to compete in the long term.
The "Audio Track" report from the National Media Institute, January–October 2024 is available for download here:
https://kim.gov.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024_11_15_Wyniki-KIM_Audio-Track_rynek-ogolnopolski.pdf
COMMERCIAL BREAK
New articles in section Media industry
Paid journalistic content. Market trends and forecasts by Reuters Institute
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Only 18 percent of internet users pay for online news access, and the rate has not increased for the third year in a row. Norway sets records with 42%, while Greece does not exceed 7%. Globally, nearly one in three subscribers cancels after a year.
Gen Alpha avoids tough topics. What young people are really looking for
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Generation Alpha prefers humor in 46% of cases, while only 12% are interested in news and political topics. Young people and children consciously limit what negatively affects their emotions - according to the report "Gen Alpha Unfiltered" published by GWI.
YouTube redefines viewer engagement. Goodbye to returning viewers
KFi
As many as 30% of internet users now turn to YouTube as their main news source, and 65% consume news in video form. Now the platform is shaking things up. Reach still matters, but engagement is what really counts.
See articles on a similar topic:
Can a Robot Be Good Boss? Researchers from SWPS Look for Answers
SWPS
A robot giving orders at work is no longer a science fiction scenario - it's a research topic. Scientists from SWPS University in Poland set out to find out whether a robot can effectively manage human workers.
Journalism and Technology. How Indian Newspapers Fight to Survive
KFi
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transformation of India's press industry. Traditional print media, forced to fight for survival, adopted modern technologies ranging from data analysis to artificial intelligence. How do journalists adapt to new roles, and how do media redefine their future in the digital age? Researchers from the Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication have explored these questions.
Radio Fanatics. Who Listens for One-Third of the Day?
Bartłomiej Dwornik
One in five listeners now spends over 8 hours daily listening to the radio, according to data from the Radio Track study. Since the beginning of the year, the number of these avid listeners has grown by 300,000.
Trends in Media and Entertainment. DataArt Predictions for 2019
KF
Increasing consumption of content on mobile devices, growing demand for on-demand services, and the rapid development of user-generated content are the trends expected to dominate the tech sector in 2019, according to DataArt, a global technology consulting firm.