It’s a vital service for many people who are blind or have low vision or who live with other print disabilities and Vision Australia Radio is going from strength to strength.
Listener survey data supplied by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) show that in the 12 months to June 30, VAR recorded a monthly listenership of 608,000. That figure represents a 20.8% increase on 2017’s monthly figure of 503,000.
Conrad Browne, Manager Vision Australia Audio, said it’s pleasing to know more people are making use of the VAR service.
“For our listeners, VAR provides entertainment, but it’s also an important way for them to access printed material like newspapers, magazines and books that they may otherwise miss out on,” Conrad says.
“That, along with our programming that deals with issues relating specifically to the blind and low vision community, means we’re providing a valuable service to our listeners and it’s great that number is growing,” he says.
In another positive for VAR, the overall growth in listeners was driven by increases across metropolitan and regional audiences.
In Melbourne, monthly listeners hit 394,000 in 2018, up 14.6% on 2017’s 342,000. VAR in Adelaide recorded a 24% increase to 62,000 listeners per month, while in Perth listeners jumped 43% to 103,000 a month.
In regional Victoria, monthly listeners increased to 49,000 people, up 44% from 2017.
“Our audiences are located in a number of different markets and these figures show that we’re producing programming that is of value and interest to people across Australia,” Conrad says.
“These figures also don’t take into account the large number of people who enjoy VAR content as podcasts each and every week.”
To find out more about VAR or to listen now, head to varadio.org.