It replaced the Scottish BBC Radio 4 opt-out service of the same name from 23 November 1978.

According to RAJAR, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 801,000 and has a listening share of 5.8% as of March 2024.

[2] The first BBC Radio Scotland broadcast was on 17 December 1973, a fortnight earlier than planned.

Kirsty Wark launched her career on BBC Radio Scotland, first as a researcher and then as a producer.

[10] Radio Scotland broadcasts a wide range of programming, including news, debate, music, drama, comedy and sports.