March 31st, 2007 11:00pm

Aspen's local TV station is making waves.

Aspen's Channel 16, once the province of yawn-inducing ski reports and SkiCo corporate messaging, has broadened its horizons as Plum TV. Under its new corporate overlords (read: a couple of guys who met at Brown, and squeezed their first success from a company called Nantucket Nectars), the channel has dedicated itself to covering more of what makes Aspen Aspen. Before a speaker steps onto the stage at the Aspen Institute or a singer takes the stage at Belly Up, there's a pretty good chance that they're taking a seat next to Sari Tuschman (an Aspen Magazine alum) or Torre-of-the-no-last-name (a city councilman) and elucidating between sips of latte.

But the station, now in its second year, isn't taking things easy; it plans to increase its locally produced programming from 50 to 80 percent in the next year. "We'll be adding some local documentary programming, some local food shows, more coverage of local events," says general manager Kutcher Miller. "It's about quality content for visitors and locals -- good television that people enjoy watching."

Yes, it's still local TV, but its outlook is more Today than Wayne's World. In fact we'd like to see Matt Lauer do so well in a parka.