I asked Stuart Thomas:
I wonder what research has suggested that fans of folk music are being "super-served" as stated in Simon Cornes' reply and why, even if this is true, the only alternative offered is not to serve this genre at all.

The current provision for this genre is 2 hours which, if the programme continued, would amount to about 1.5% of listening time. If the problem is that the programme is being broadcast at a peak listening time which you want to devote to local news, why is it not possible to move it to a different time slot? (Please also note that the "gig-guides" broadcast in the programme are a valuable source of information on local events and that live interviews on the programme are with local performers or national performers who are performing in the local area.)

He replied
I know it's always disappointing when a much loved programme comes to an end.

However we believe that the time slot should be serving a wider audience instead of only appealing to people who like a particular genre of music.

Unfortunately we do not have the airtime or broadcast capacity to fit these programmes into the schedule elsewhere.

Best regards


Stuart Thomas


I think one of us must be missing the point!

Still it must be irritating for him to have to get some skivvy to keep sending out replies.