Sunday, September 14, 2008

High Country Greenwash?

Way back in April, we made a post musing over the possibility of Aisling Broadcasting (which is operating under receivership) incorporating some sort of "green programming" into their lineup:
As Aisling Broadcasting casts about for a solution to their problems while operating under receivership, they would do well to examine some other formats which might be more suitable to some of the other potential demographic listener segments here in the High Country.
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Some radio stations around the country are beginning to flip their formats to "green programming" which tends to focus on sustainability issues, in addition to a certain type of overall station format. And they sell commercials...some of them even get good ratings...and some even make MONEY.
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With the large and well-established sustainability movement here in the High Country (not to mention the highly desirable younger college demographic at ASU), as well as the increasing number of jobs associated with this movement being created here, one would have to wonder why Aisling would not try to do something innovative--like trying the Green Format [on] one of their stations.

It's a stretch, we know. But one can hope. Anyway, it's not just big city radio stations that are switching to this new format. Some of these stations are even in Texas...Texas? Yep, and not just in Austin.
So, we were curious when we came across the notice on the goblueridge.net website stating that "goblueridge.net is going green! Coming Soon." Could this be an acknowledgment by Aisling that they are willing to change--and start including diverse points of view? Could this be an acknowledgment that in an area that skews overwhelmingly young and progressive--that conservative hate radio is no longer working (see: Receivership)? A rejection of the "flat-earther" global warming denier crazies?

Or will this be a local version of the classic corporate greenwash?

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