Southern Cross Australia releases March streaming numbers: All up

As Australians worked from home during much of march, radio group Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) worked up some streaming metrics for the month. This report covers live radio streaming, smart speaker listening, and podcast plays. It does not touch over-the-air radio listening.

All streaming metrics in this report are up in double-digit percentages:

• +21% live radio streaming listeners (1.1-million)
• +22% live radio streaming sessions (7.9-million)
• +12% streaming listening hours (9.1-million)
• +19% smart speaker listening (averaging more than two hours per session)
• +66% podcast downloads (4-million)
• +55% “total SCA podcasting”

“Our current listener behaviour is showing that our audiences are already, and will continue to, rely on audio to stay updated, informed, connected and comforted,” said David Cameron, SCA Chief Content Officer. “SCA’s content teams have also pivoted to produce some fantastic content to keep listeners happy and to enjoy music or a laugh in these anxious times, as well as a series of random acts of kindness. I’m incredibly proud of our team who are working really diligently to keep listeners informed and entertained.”

SCA Head of News & Current Affairs Natasha Jobson commented on operations: “A revised rostering system now allows our journalists to focus on writing, audio editing, interviewing and reading roles – with a large portion now doing that from their ‘home newsroom’ set ups. We are mobilised to deliver news from anywhere, for anywhere.”