• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Pot Talk: The Next Big Talk Format for Colorado and Washington State?

Bongwater

Bongwater

This week saw the debut of "K-High" 1580 (KHIG) in Colorado Springs, CO. http://letstalkpot.com

The big question is, can it work?

It's doable. But it has to be REALLY engaging, informative and enlightening. The cannabis community is a HUGE and pretty lucrative and surprisingly active, upscale market. But they won't put up being talked down to. Or be treated as dumb slackers. They're bright and intelligent and want information and education in the various cannabis strains, concentrates and other products on the market locally. Plus news on cannabis dispensaries, legislative actions and regular local happenings and things in the news. Humor is not only a HUGE plus, but mandatory.

However, listening to KHIG, I've heard the pot talk broken by brokered religion and health talk programs. I know they've only been on the air four days, but they really could do without that. Or keep it on Sunday morning.

They have the right idea. These are changing times (and Yours Truly was DECADES ahead of his time.) At this point with AM radio, you don't have much to lose. It's worth a shot. Are the ratings going to be huge? Hell no if it's on AM radio. But it's worth a shot.

I leave you now to AQH or somebody else here who will tell us why it will NEVER work and how terrible and wrong this is. And then moan about why there isn't any new ideas in radio to work with.

Happy 420 Weekend!
 

Attachments

  • KHIGH-Flag-Black.jpg
    KHIGH-Flag-Black.jpg
    94.3 KB · Views: 2
Just a hunch on this ... seems like it would be more effective on a station as a featured program not 100% format. Something like a talk station devoted to social issues not just slanted politics...

And Happy 420 backatha, BW!!
 
How fitting is that? A thread about a station airing pot related talk, originated by a poster named Bongwater? That's awesome. Can it work? I believe so. Marijuana is certainly not as taboo now as it was when I was growing up in the 70s. I can imagine that any segments featuring calls being taken from their listeners could be quite entertaining, to say the least. In a State like Colorado or Washington, where it is now legal, I would think this format would stand a chance of success. Down here in Texas, not so much. You've got to give it to the people involved with the station. It certainly is a result of thinking outside the box. Too bad that it's not at 1420kHz. That would be the icing on the cake...or the crystals on the weed as the case may be.

Now, where's my grinder...
 
Is this a show or a format?

Being 4 days old, it could be the station has leased the time and is in a transition period where existing contracts will be expiring, perhaps by the end of the month. If it is a show, the station might be a group of opposed clients that will all be upset with the station. The health shows might not be as out of line as the ministries buying time, but that depends on the health shows.

If opting for a format, a lifestyle format is certainly a good idea. Some good research on the lives of the atypical listener would be in order to represent a more full service format that allows the station to earn longer times spent listening each week. Looking at the Contemporary Christian format might be good because while centered on a specific music format there are other lifestyle elements added. The good Contemporary Christian station has lots of elements and we're not talking preaching, that cover the needs and interests of their core listener. In short, the objective is to be the only station the listener needs to get all the information they want.

The idea sure has potential.

I know a Texas station tried a 'Green' format on an ultra rimshot (an AM that barely reached the city). The format did not last very long. I suspect aside from having trouble getting advertisers, there was a struggle to find the place where the most listeners would be comfortable. When you talk 'Green' it runs from the casual 'green' to hardcore 'green'. That idea, like green leafy radio are viable ideas if you can keep the seeds and stems out of the mix.
 
what's next---- booze radio---- promoting drinking?

but , sports talk already does that. (beer, babes, sports)
 
Mix it all together - booze radio, pot radio, and add the Cigar Dave show! That's how to save AM Radio...
 
It's ironic that WEED radio is in the most conservative large city in Colorado. You should know that you can't just walk into a store in Colorado Springs and buy a joint. Recreational marijuana has yet to be approved in most of the COS metro. It's only available in Manitou Springs, the jumping-on point for the Pikes Peak Cog Railway.
Otherwise, you'll need a doctor's excuse, rather prescription.

I think the only thing that may be harder than trying to start a low power FM (I've got a CP, great for rolling papers) would be to keep a high band class D AM operating in a metro market with about 20 full-power FMs blasting away. Wonder if the owner of KHIG is grasping at straws, or maybe "stems?" Or maybe it's been LMA'd to one whose money is "green" and judgement is clouded with smoke.

What's next? A station that's all beer, all the time? I should stop now, as this may be hitting too close to home...see below
 
Colorado Springs has a couple large military bases nearby -- military town. Hence the reason it's probably a bit more conservative than other Colorado cities.

Boulder is like the Berkeley of the Rockies, from what I hear.
 
I saw an article somewhere that says the city is not as conservative as everyone thinks. Some think this station might actually work.
 
No, COS is nothing but a Cedar Rapids on steroids with a mountain. (CR would seem like Boulder in comparison) Any progressives there would be diluted by the strong conservative base.
 
It's way out of the box thinking. Way out. It has listeners and buzz. I was in a chilies bar in springs and people were talking - I thought when was the last time I heard ANYONE talking about a radio station??!!!
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom