Green Wave is evergreen

Published on September 25, 2007

Saithip and Green Wave’s DJs are celebrating the radio station’s 16-year anniversary.

Green Wave 106.5 FM - A-Time Media's longest-running radio station - is celebrating its 16th anniversary all this month, and 1,000 Bangkok fans will be sharing in Bt12 million worth of gifts.

The "Green Wave Happy Anniversary" campaign is offering a Bt700,000 Nissan Tiida, six trips to the fabled Taj Mahal in India and lots of Samsung mobile phones and other gadgets.

Contest winners will also be invited to party with the likes of Marsha Wattanapanich, Saowalak Leelabutr and Viyada Komarakul na Nakorn.

"I've been in the radio business for a long time, but Green Wave is a miracle," says its CEO, Saithip Montrikul Na Ayudhaya. "It's like family to the listeners. They'll even call us up to complain if we air a commercial they think is socially unsuitable.

"Radio advertising budgets have been reduced because the economy's still in bad shape, but Green Wave stays alive because we're the first and best choice for sponsors," she adds. "They know about our listeners' brand loyalty, and our audience is massive."

Green Wave is geared toward adult listeners who are environmentally minded. It went on air as A-Time's debuted on October 1, 1991, and was followed 15 days later by A-Time's Hot Wave, which gives the younger crowd the latest hits.

Saithip points out, though, that Green Wave isn't just about "forest, mountain or sea, but all things surrounding humans. It's about the environment of the home, the office, even of other people. Later, we developed a series of activities called Green Trips."

There have been more than 50 Green Trips, taking selected listeners to places where they can do things like restore hermit crabs and sea turtles to their natural habitats. Japan was the destination of an excursion early this year.

Green Wave's DJs include Nuntakarn "Nui" Ritiwong from 2 to 4am, Kedsarin "Ked" Wirojchoochut from 4.30 to 6am, Puwanart "Un" Kunpalin from 6 to 10am, Winai "Nong" Suksawaeng from 10 to 1pm, Eakchai "Eak" Euesungkomsate from 1 to 4pm, Napaporn "Aoy" Trivitwareegune from 4 to 8pm, Tushanon "Fiat" Jaruputchanee from 8 to 11pm and Chanthana "Bam" Paladisaisawasdi from 11pm to 2am.

As "DJ Chod", Saithip has a show of her own on Fridays from 10pm to midnight.

She's proud of the Green Wave feature called "Club Fine Day", through which listeners can share their experiences in the hope that others can learn from them. It's one in a series of outreaches to try and help people in need.

"We found a remote school upcountry where many of the students didn't even have shoes," she says. "We mentioned it on air and were amazed when more than Bt1 million in donations poured in."

Then there are the Green Concerts, proceeds from which go to charities. They began in 1995 with "10 Years Byrd & Heart", and the stars since have included Mai Charoenpura, Nitipong Hornak, Tuk & Tuu and Christina Aguilar.

Green Concert 10 - "The Lost Love Songs" - at Impact Arena this weekend, is sold out, a nice pat on the back for the station's 16th anniversary next Monday.

"Achieving success at the beginning," says Saithip, "isn't as important as staying a success for the long term - it's a miracle."

Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

 The Nation