Colorado Springs Radio: K-High Unconcerned With FCC

Marijuana is a booming phenomenon in Colorado but, until recently, one without a dedicated broadcast voice. And that's how KREL became KHIG 1580 AM or "K-HIGH," which began broadcasting with its new pot format April 13.

KHIG broadcasts with 10 Kw-Day and 140 watts-Night.

"Part of the appeal was the upside of advertising," Program director Len Williams told the Colorado Springs Indepdendent. "The number-one thing [Knar] said was that" — here Williams enunciates carefully — "there are more dispensaries in Colorado than liquor stores and car dealerships combined."

Hence, morning commuters can now turn to K-HIGH for "The Wake and Bake Morning Show" from 7 to 9 a.m., which, Williams says, is "just like any other morning show that you would want — hyped, energetic, gets you moving — but the main thing is, it's about marijuana." And on the drive home, there's a show hosted by four men known as the Weed Pimps.

Len Williams

That show, which starts at 5 p.m., is called "The High Drive at Five."

It would be difficult to imagine a radio station going on the air with a 24-hour booze format, or an afternoon-drive show called, say, "The Drunk Drive at Five." But Williams and company seem unconcerned about the wrath of the FCC, which has yet to take a public stance on pot content or advertising. (K-HIGH has been running periodic announcements, however, saying the station is intended for people 21 and up — and telling younger listeners to go away.)

The Colorado Broadcasters Association, which represents most TV and radio stations in the state has a cautious stance. "We do tell our members who inquire about running advertising for retail and medical marijuana not to advertise," says CBA president and CEO Justin Sasso, "because while it is recognized as legal by the state of Colorado, it is not by the federal government. ... On the other hand, the format in question is really just freedom of speech."

Bobby Irwin, operations manager for Cumulus Media, which operates local AM news-and-talk station KVOR 740 AM, says his first reaction upon hearing of the new competitor was, "It's a very clever idea, a great way of calling attention to a frequency that wasn't getting much attention." Pressed on whether he thinks it's a good idea, Irwin pauses and says, "It's an idea. It's novel."