The latest RAJAR audience stats are out for British radio listening including both the BBC and commercial stations. Technically, these are the stats for Quarter 2, 2008. (Graphic Credit: © RAJAR)

Rajar says radio listening has remained stable at slightly over 45 million listeners each week or 89% of the UK population 15 years and older.

Radio listening through digital platforms has increased since the same time last year. 17.9% of all radio listening is now through either DAB (11%), DTV (3.3%), or via the Internet (2.0%).

Radio listenership via cell phone is on the increase. The number of adults (15 years or older) who say they have listened through their mobile phone increased from 8.9% a year ago to 12.2% in the most current study. Those 15 - 24 years of age who listen via cell phone has jumped from 21.9% last year to 31.4% in the current RAJAR report.

For more information on RAJAR, visit www.rajar.co.uk.

Approval for the merger of the XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio providers appears imminent. According to a report by Tim Arango in The New York Times: "The Federal Communications Commission was on the verge of approving a merger...that would end a nearly 18-month government review of a deal that would essentially create a monopoly in satellite radio. Deborah Taylor Tate, a Republican member of the F.C.C., appeared ready on Wednesday to vote in favor of the deal, which would break a deadlock along party lines among the other four commissioners."

* Who Will Benefit Most from the Proposed SIRIUS - XM Satellite Radio Merger?
* A Satellite Radio Merger: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly
* Merger Testimony: No Price Rise for Satellite Radio? Doubtful...