One-Third of the Population Tuned in to Chicago Radio Town Hall Meeting

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Nielsen Audio survey taken after last Monday night's historic 47-Chicago radio station roadblock broadcast of the "Chicago Radio Town Hall Meeting with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel" reconfirms the power of radio, with one-third of the population tuning in.

"The Chicago radio town hall proved to be a huge success," said Brad Kelly, managing director of Nielsen Audio. "Not only did it reach and engage listeners, but 70% of those surveyed felt that the event was important enough to justify broadcasting it on so many radio stations."

The November 14^th, 6pm-6:30pm broadcast featured Mayor Rahm Emanuel and legendary award-winning IBA Hall of Fame broadcast journalist Bill Kurtis discussing a variety of Chicago-specific topics. The 47 participating Chicago radio stations who collectively reach 6.5 million adults (age 18 and older) weekly, represented all type formats, including Spanish language; each clearing their airwaves of regular programming to carry the 30-minute commercial free "Radio Town Hall."

Nielsen Audio revealed the study surveyed close to 800 adults, 18 and older, measuring their knowledge of the town hall, its impact and their overall reaction to the broadcast, publicized in advance by the very stations carrying the broadcast. The Nielsen survey found that 7 in 10 Chicagoans were aware of the event, with nearly half knowing about it prior to the air date. Some other findings from the survey include:

• One third of the population listened to the broadcast.
• 88% of those who tuned in listened to all or most of the broadcast.
• 74% of the broadcast's audience had planned to tune in.
• Eight in 10 adults dialed in to their preferred station.
• The location of listening was equally split between those listening at home and away from home.

"Our hope is that we started the conversation and that it continues in coffee shops, park benches, around water coolers and at dinner tables throughout Chicago," stated Doug Levy, Chairman of the Illinois Broadcasters Association and its Radio Broadcasters of Chicago Committee.  

"What a wonderful testament of the power of radio," remarked Dennis Lyle, president and CEO of the Illinois Broadcasters Association, upon learning of the Nielsen study's results.

Nielsen reports the success of the town hall also garnered additional attention following the initial airing with eighty-four percent of those aware of the "Radio Town Hall" hearing about it again, post event, through a variety of media sources and word-of-mouth.

"AM/FM is America's number one mass reach media," continued Kelly. "In the span of a few hours in Chicago (last week,) the Radio Broadcasters of Chicago proved that during a time of constant media fragmentation, radio has a remarkable ability to deliver a massive, diverse and engaged audience."

SOURCE Illinois Broadcasters Association