"So you reckon Caroline has more listeners now, when there is a choice of hundreds of FM/AM stations"

With DAB yes true.

"over a hundred on Sky Digital alone"

possibly although the amount of specialist stations may take that down to about 40. if that. 

"plus the thousands of internet stations"

possibly 6000 stations now..

"compared to say pre March 1968, when the choice was Radio 1, Radio 2, Luxy (at night) or Caroline North or South"

I know Caroline's audience when Radio 1 came on slipped down many millions from its all time high of August 67.  

"Are you being serious?"

Well trying to be at least logical.

"It has no real audience at all! The whole thing is a joke!....a sad imitation of a legend"

I don't understand how you can say that. Its like saying Caroline in the 80s was the same as Caroline in the 60s.  It was different. and its different today. But i enjoy listening to it very much. Its still got that soul.

"It would be a good thing if they just switched it off instead of continuing to turn Caroline into the total self indulgent joke that it has become"

Thats ok. we all have our thoughts, But Caroline is there and is making mine and many others lives good.  Don't get me wrong it could be better and the Station does have a landbased feel at times But its Caroline. The real Caroline.

there is no doubt the listners have far more choice today. And there a few if any Stations with a bigger audience that 5 years ago. Its industry wide. Even TV stations are finding it hard.

But maybe if you added up the listeners worldwide... It would be more than the South East coast in the 80s. I would say she had around 3 or 4 million during the 60s Radio London taking the majoy slice during the day.. On August 14th when London closed that would have peaked at say 8 million. some reports of 20 million but I think that may have been exagerated. During 68 it fell. about 1 million if luckey. Radio 1 hitting them hard. 70s well possibly half a million. the Dutch would have had more listeners.  early 80s it rose again to possibly 3 million peak. 963 was powerful at times and there was something new on the airwaves. Then Laser 558 smashed its audience to bits. after Laser it would have got back about 2 million only to plumit when the power dropped and the Mast fell down. trickling to a few thousand Anaraks like us... the rest is decline and history..

But listening now i hear many requests from all around the world. and its growing every day. not many stations can say that from listener emails alone. i agree potential is not reality. And I know not everyone is happy with the output. but lets face it.  Caroline has always had the complainer. Rock station, pop station, Europes 1st and only album station.. etc etc.

This radio Caroline is different.  maybe i'm more of an anorak than I think..