June 5th, 2006 11:00pm

By Katie Klingsporn

Telluride's television channel 13 - where the viewer can glimpse local faces and places-
has been acquired by small a New York-based network that specializes in upscale resort communities.
Plum TV, which operates local channels in Aspen, Hamptons, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Vail, has
acquired the channel from Stormy Mountain Broadcasting. The acquisition was effective on Thursday. Plum TV's
CEO, Tom Scott, stressed that the channel-which will be renamed Plum - will retain its local flavor.The
current programming offers samples of local festivals and events as well as outdoor-based shows, documentaries
and local shows like "Telluride Today." Although no plans have been set in stone, Scott said the channel would
likely keep this type of programming and acquire more of the ilk of community journalism, documentaries and
profiles.In a town like Telluride, which acts as a magnet for interesting, passionate and inspiring people, Scott said,
"there's always a lot of good stories to tell.""A whole lot happens in that one small and beautiful place,"he said. "There's
something really special about that town."Viewers can also anticipate more information about news and weather through gadgetry
such as tickers and graphics, he said.According to its Web site, Plum acts as a local homepage; bringing the viewer the lowdown
straight from the source; Plum is where the viewer can find out if the fish are biting, how to avoid the traffic or what shows
or events are taking place.

Its typical programming includes regionally-focused features, tourist information, real estate shows,
local news and specially targeted entertainment.Plum was launched in 2004, and Telluride's channel is the sixth it
has acquired. Plum holds an exclusive market in small resort communities, which Scott said warrant a different type
of service due to their characteristics of natural beauty that draws tourists and those interested in alternative lifestyles
- who make for a discerning and thoughtful audience.Scott, who lived in Nantucket for 17 years - and co-founded the natural
juice company Nantucket Nectars while he was there - said that while all small resort towns are very different, "One thing
that they all share is how unique they all are.""That's what we look for," he said. "There's a community aspect to these towns
that's really special and really unique. There's something warm there, and we celebrate warmth of spirit."Channel 13's staff
will remain intact, Scott said, and Plum will work with them for six months to feel things out before making any major changes
to programming.This includes Kiley Lane, who hosts "Telluride Today" and works as editor, producer, writer and director as well
as Director of Operations James McCutcheon, who has held his position for 13 years."The only change will come in conjunction with
what they want to do," Scott said. "We have as much to learn about them as they have to learn about us."Stormy Mountain Broadcasting
is the exclusive provider of commercial airtime on CNN, ESPN, TNT, Discovery, The Weather Channel, ESPN2, MSNBC and CNBC.The
Telluride Daily Planet was unable to reach McCutcheon for comment on Sunday.