According to Jeff Zycinski, it's all to do with football "because there was no dramatic title chase at the top of the SPL table".
Words fail me(Football is what usually makes me switch off....).

http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-news/5518-radio-scotland-hit-by-fall-in-listener-numbers#comment-167278

Drop in listeners? What a surprise! I await an announcement from Radio Scotland that they will look for another popular, high quality programme - and then axe it. That is what they did with The Reel Blend and the Janice Forsyth show. They insisted that these changes would bring in in more listeners, especially younger ones; but this does not seem to have happened.

So maybe us ordinary listeners were right to complain at the time. Maybe the next thing to be axed should be the managers such as Jeff Z who seems to have got it wrong yet again. After all, there aren't many good programmes left to axe.

No alarms and no surprises - according to the criteria used you only need to tune in for more than 5 mins a week to be tagged as a 'listener'. I used to have nothing else on but RS, nowadays I would struggle to last that 5 minutes, especially at the moment with the journo-overtimefest that is this competition that's on in London or somewhere...

Jeff - it's boring, middle class, white, fitba' obsessed drivel that's long overdue for an overhaul. Reminds me of the crap I used to have to endure in Ireland in the 80's when they set up commercial radio licences. Go and get a new job and give someone else a chance at creating a proper station that reflects the needs of the new Scotland.

Spleen vented. back to work...

Mick, I agree with you. I complained at the axing of Reel Blend and signed the petition for Janice.

I have moved away from Radio Scotland and it used to be my station of choice.

We're not complaining. Listening numbers are steady and feedback all positive.
Then again, we do pay attention to what people tell us:
http://www.thelisteningstation.co.uk/

I'm not surprised RS numbers have dropped. Not only did they ditch good music programmes, but they also, after a run of 30 years, dumped the excellent, insightful 'Newsweek Scotland'. In making the decision, I think it was Controller Ken MacQuarrie who described Radio 4's 'Today' programme as the BBC's ' Crown Jewels'. How he could have sanctioned the slashing of an in-depth prog like Newsweek , ( I believe, the only one of its kind on Radio Scotland) to be replaced by another day of Good Morning Scotland , and at a time of major political significance, is beyond me.

Have to agree with much of what has been said here. The station has become so "dumbed down" it has become almost unlistenable. The axing of the Janice Forsyth show is but one example of the cultural vandalism committed by the station. Call Kaye - give me a break! The growth in encouraging text contribution in the name of "citizen journalism" - no thanks. I now favour Radio 4 for talk based stuff and Radio 6 for music. I am a football fan but there was already more than enough sports coverage prior to recent changes. Bah humbug!

Mibees four oors o' Travellin' Folk is provin' too much for uncommitted listeners.
Ah know it's too much fur me!

How dae thae no dae wan oor and repeat it oan Setturday.......that wid lea thum two oors tae pit oan somethin' intristin'?

What do they expect if their marketing is based on the premise that everybody in Scotland is fitba daft?

I don't know whether it's because I'm a Scot, or because I'm a Glaswegian (Not mutually exclusive), but I find that my non Scots friends do a sort of double take, when I tell them I loather fitba'.
I think this is due to years of wall to wall football on radio and TV. Not to mention the high profile of Scottish managers of English teams. That they seem to have the impression that all Scots are football nuts, or possibly hooligans.
However I hardly ever listen to RS now. I used to enjoy TF, Reel Blend, and especially Mr Anderson's Fine Tunes. Non stop Radio4 in this house now, with the occasional foray onto Radio3 for a wee bittie kultur!

RE: According to Jeff Zycinski, it's all to do with football "because there was no dramatic title chase at the top of the SPL table".

Er... and there wasn't an absolutely massive Scottish football-related news story to take its place over the last few months?? As the guy ultimately responsible for cancelling some of my favourite programmes on Radio Scotland, I already thought this guy should be shown the door, but if he's this reliant on one sport to keep his job, then he should be chucked immediately.

I was a big fan of the Janice Forsyth show and Iain Anderson's show (which many of my friends in the USA enjoy) has also been cut. Shame on you BBC Scotland.