The latest TGI poll, released on Wednesday 6 Menachem Av, shows that Kol Chai Radio’s listening audience has increased, taking the lead from the Shas-affiliated Kol Berama Radio. The poll refers to the first half of 2015, measuring listening habits of the chareidi community.

Kol Berama held the first place slot for a number of years but the poll shows things have changed in 2015. Kol Chai in the first half of 2015 registered 5.6% of listeners as compared to Kol Berama with 5.1%, a 17% decline from the last poll. While the lead is a marginal one, what is more significant is that Kol Chai gained 10% from the last poll, which referred to the last half of 2014. The dati leumi-affiliated Galei Yisrael station is up to 2%, a slight increase from 1.8%.

Kol Chai CEO Avi Rosen attributes the increase to the dedication of the staff and quality programing.

Kol Berama officials hail the fact that in just a “few short years” the station has become a leader in the chareidi world and it continues to have an influence on the community.

Newspapers:

Yisrael Hayom is the most widely read newspaper in Israel today, given out free daily, with 39.8% of the market. In second place is Yediot Achronot with 35.4%.

Weekend Newspapers:

Yediot Achronot leads with 38.8%, followed by Yisrael Hayom with 35.5%. Yediot is down from 39.7% and Yisrael Hayom is up from 33.9%. far behind in third place is the Yisrael Post with 7.8% as opposed to 8.3% last year. Maariv has 3.6% with its new Maariv Weekend publication as compared to 5.6% last year. The weekend Haaretz is also down from 5.2% to 4.6%.

Sectoral Weekend Newspapers:

BaSheva continues gaining with 7% this year compared to 5% last year, the leading weekend newspaper. Makor Rishon has 3.1%, down 2%.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)