Several of RTÉ's flagship radio programmes last year lost a significant number of listeners, according to the latest figures.
Marian Finucane lost 25,000, Pat Kenny's audience fell by 13,000, while 23,000 fewer people tuned in to the News at One, according to the latest JNLR/MRBI 2001 survey.
In the contest for drive-time listners, Today FM's The Last Word current affairs programme, presented by Eamon Dunphy, increased its listenership by 15,000, while the audience for RTÉ's Five Seven Live, which goes out at the same time, fell by 15,000.
The battle for breakfast-time listners also intensified. Ian Dempsey, who moved from RTÉ to Today FM, increased listenership for his breakfast show by 30,000. But Damien McCaul's Breakfast Show on 2FM lost 22,000 listeners. The latter runs for an hour less than Dempsey's programme. RTÉ1's Morning Ireland increased its audience by 4,000.
The RTÉ group of stations, RTÉ1, 2FM and Lyric FM, maintained its market share of 47 per cent. Today FM increased its market share to 9 per cent (up 1 per cent).
Local independent stations continued to perform strongly, maintaining a 44 per cent market share.
The top five local stations in terms of market share are: Highland Radio (63 per cent), North West Radio (53 per cent), WLR FM (51 per cent), Radio Kerry (46 per cent), Tipp Mid West & Mid-West Radio (44 per cent).
RTÉ's combined 47 per cent market share was an important attraction for advertisers, according to Mr Gavan Byrne, managing director, MindShare, which buys airtime for companies.The increased listenership for Today FM had been a "natural progression" for the station. There had also in recent years been a "steady erosion away from RTÉ".
He said the audience increase for the Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show could be partly attributed to its comedic and satirical element.
Today FM's 1 per cent national market share increase to 9 per cent was a "slow and steady growth".
He said factors influencing future growth would be whether Eamon Dunphy stayed at the station and if RTÉ's Gerry Ryan joined the station, as has been speculated. Sources say Dunphy and his production team have been in negotiations with a view to syndicating a current affairs programme across a network of independent stations.
Today FM's chairman, Mr John McColgan, said yesterday: "All of us are negotiating contracts in a robust and professional manner. We are very keen for Eamon to stay and we think that Eamon is keen to stay with us. We will do a deal."
Ms Helen Shaw, RTÉ's director of radio, said she expected Gerry Ryan to remain with the State broadcaster.
The latest figures show 88 per cent of adults listen to the radio. Increased traffic has benefited the entire sector, said Ms Shaw, creating extended listening times in the morning and evening.
Lyric FM now has its highest listenership - 122,000 every weekday - since its launch almost three years ago.
Significant gains were also made by Today FM's Ray D'Arcy, who used to work with RTÉ. His show increased its listenership by 24,000. On 2FM, Gareth O'Callaghan's programme had an increase of 11,000. But Dave Fanning lost 11,000 listeners.
RTÉ1 also had large increases for some of its programmes. The Ronan Collins Show audience increased by 18,000. Arts show Rattlebag, presented by Myles Dungan, increased its listenership by 12,000.
In Dublin, 98FM's market share has stayed at 16 per cent. FM104's market share remains at 13 per cent. Lite FM's market share in Dublin fell by 1 per cent to 9 per cent. Recently launched Country 106.8FM has a 1 per cent share.
The radio market in Dublin will continue to fragment, said Mr Byrne, as new stations Newstalk and Spin FM come on air.