Plum's Tom Scott leads business to new expansion
Stations will grow by two new locations this spring
BY MARY LANCASTER
There have been many changes in Tom Scott's life since he founded Plum TV at the age of 37, but his philosophy on the purpose and quality of his business format is not among them.

"We want to stay opportunists," says Plum CEO Tom Scott. Plum, which began on Nantucket, currently has six stations across the nation. It will add two more this spring.

That credo is to seek out the essence of life in the towns where he has stations and provide his viewing public with programming reflecting what matters most to them. Often, he observes, primary issues are common - affordable housing, traffic, public access. He tries not only to profile each town's situations for its specific audience, but also to share similar conditions by airing broadcasts pertaining to each locale's concerns and challenges where the information and solutions may be helpful to other communities.

And it all started on Nantucket.

"We are celebrating the people and the place," Scott said of the impetus behind Plum's growth, with six stations operating and two more being added this spring. "It is the spirit and the intellect we're looking for. You view things through these different scopes, and I'm fascinated by these places. A lot of people [on Nantucket] have a vested interest in the town. In the midst of that, technologically speaking, we want to create television on a local basis. We're interested in the good news."

Scott first earned fame as half the duo of Tom and Tom - Tom Scott and Tom First - who launched the Nantucket Nectars line of juices, calling themselves "The Juice Guys." Scott, who was raised in Washington, D.C., had a summer home here in 1987 after graduating from Brown University with a bachelor's degree in American Civilization. When he relocated permanently to the island in 1989 he joined forces with Tom First to launch Nantucket Nectars, gaining experience in marketing through connections with mainly radio outlets learning what their customer base sought and choosing appropriate venues to advertise the product. Scott's contract as a consultant to Nantucket Nectars ended Jan. 1.

In 1997, he invested in Nantucket Television, co-founded and operated by Gene Mahon and Alan Hall, on the top floor of the Pacific Club building. In 2002 he bought them out and in 2004 introduced the concept of Plum TV with co-founder and islander Chris Glowacki, formerly with NBC and now president of Plum, and David Kuhn, who was managing Nantucket Television and remains with Plum today in charge of all new markets.

"Local news is important here," said Scott. "It was where my interests were and I was interested in how the town works. It's a really unique environment. When I left running Nantucket Nectars in 2000 I didn't know what I would do next. I decided to let the wind blow me and look for that thing that I loved. I just kind of stumbled on TV."

Current stations besides Nantucket's are on Martha's Vineyard, in Aspen, The Hamptons, Telluride and Vail, with the two new stations to open in South Beach, Fla. and Sun Valley. Local sponsors include Don Allen, Windwalker and J. Pepper Frazier Real Estate companies, Hy-Line and Cape Air. National sponsors span giants such as Volkswagen, Lexus, Visa, Audi and FBR Bank. Since he began Plum on Nantucket, the number of staff at stations and in corporate offices has grown from three to 105 people.

Though business is going well for Scott's company and he is aiming at perhaps having 20 stations as a goal, he said what matters most is the quality of what the company produces and the satisfaction of its dedicated employees.

"We want to stay opportunists, but if we are happy with the way things are going if we get to 10 stations and we find that meets our mission, we will stop there," he said, adding that finally, he is starting to have fun.

"I recall with Nantucket Nectars laying in bed sleepless about surviving and making payroll," he confided. "In this case, it has been the same. You've got to find your way and you've got to struggle to get there. I think we're on stronger ground and know how to operate this kind of business, and we've got a great group of people who are the core. It takes time to get to a place like that and it takes teamwork and passion."

Scott, whose wife Emily has retired as CEO of J. Crew and is now writing a book and developing and producing a film, and his sons Walter, nearing four and Hank almost two, are his true loves. Still, he holds his early experiences on Nantucket close to heart in terms of how his situation has evolved.

"For me, when I graduated from college and became an adult it was on Nantucket, and that will stay with me for the rest of my life," he said. "I love Nantucket and the people. Therefore, it's no surprise to me that I ended up here because I've got to love what I do in order to do it, and I've met the people who care."

Plum TV moved from the Pacific Club to Amelia Drive in 2004, but recently relocated to 14 North Water St., a

building the company is renting. I