Hit Network

Last updated

Hit Network
Type Hot adult contemporary
Country
Australia
Broadcast area
Australia
Headquarters South Melbourne, Victoria
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
Owner Southern Cross Austereo
History
Launch date1986
Former names
  • Austereo Network
  • Today's Austereo Network
  • Today Network
  • Today's Hit Network
Links
Website hit.com.au

The Hit Network is an Australian commercial radio network owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo. The network consists of 41 radio stations broadcasting a hot adult contemporary music format, as well as 6 digital radio stations.

Contents

History

The Hit Network was formed in 1986 as the Austereo Network after Austereo, the licensee of Adelaide commercial radio station SAFM, purchased Fox FM in Melbourne. The network grew throughout the late 1980s and the 1990s, acquiring B105 Brisbane, 2Day FM Sydney and PMFM Perth, as well as establishing joint-venture stations in Canberra and Newcastle. The network would later become known as the Today Network, with stations adopting a contemporary hit radio music format.

Following the acquisition of Austereo by Southern Cross Media Group, the company incorporated the regional Hot FM, Sea FM and Star FM networks into the Today Network.

In October 2014, Southern Cross Austereo announced it would relaunch SAFM in Adelaide as Hit 107, [1] with a staggered network-wide relaunch announced in December. [2] On 14 January 2015, the network was relaunched as Today's Hit Network, with the relaunch extending to Canberra in January 2016. [3] Sea FM Hobart was relaunched as Hit100.9 in February, [4] with the remaining network stations adopting the Hit Network branding as part of a national brand consolidation in December. [5]

On 27 July 2020, the Hit Network was relaunched, adopting a new logo and "pop-based" music format in an attempt to target a 30–54 year old audience. [6] In addition, Hit 105 Brisbane and Hit 107 Adelaide reverted to their heritage brands B105 and SAFM respectively. On 20 August 2020, Southern Cross Austereo announced the network would introduce statewide networked breakfast programs in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, replacing 19 local shows. [7] [8]

On 1 December 2020, Mix 94.5 Perth switched affiliation from the Triple M network to the Hit Network, with Hit92.9 relaunching as 92.9 Triple M. [9]

Stations

As of 1 December 2023, the Hit Network consists of 41 FM radio stations.

ACT

NSW

QLD

SA

TAS

VIC

WA

Network shows

Digital radio

As of April 2024, the Hit Network broadcasts an additional 6 radio stations on DAB+ digital radio and the LiSTNR app.

YearsStationFormatAvailabilityHistory
2018–presentRnB Fridays RnB music Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide Formerly known as:
– Urban Hits (2018–2021)
2019–presentDance Hits Electronic dance music Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide
2023–presentOldskool 80s Hits 1980s music Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart Formerly known as:
– Easy 80s Hits [2020–2023]
– Easy Hits Radio (Easy listening music from the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s) [2016–2020]
– Stardust Radio (Soft pop, jazz standards, beautiful music from the 1950s, 1960s) [2012–2016]
Easy Hits was moved to the LiSNTR internet radio platform.
2020–presentOldskool 90s Hits 1990s music Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart Formerly known as:
– Oldskool Hits Radio (Hot adult contemporary music from the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s) [2016–2020]
– More Digital (Music from the 1980s, 1990s) [2015–2016]
– Loveland Radio (Love songs from the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s) [2012–2015]
2022–presentBlender Beats Remixes and Mashups Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth Replaced Buddha Hits [2012-2022] on DAB+
Buddha Hits was moved to the LiSNTR internet radio platform.
2024 - presentEasy Hits Easy listening Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide Relaunched on DAB+ replacing LiSTNR Radio

Choose The Hits was a station only broadcast on digital radio and ran between 1 February 2010 and 24 May 2010. [10]

The Hit Network launched Caravan Radio on 24 May 2010. It was a "pop up" Digital Radio station that played the best bits from Hamish & Andy's Caravan of Courage journeys while they toured the United Kingdom on their fourth Caravan of Courage. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austereo</span>

Austereo was an Australian mass media company based in Melbourne. It was founded in 1980 by Paul Thompson, and operated 16 radio stations in metropolitan and regional Australia under the Today Network and Triple M brands. In 2011, the company's majority shareholder Village Roadshow sold its shareholding to Southern Cross Media Group, which began trading as Southern Cross Austereo from 21 July.

Triple M is an Australian commercial radio network owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo. The network consists of 45 radio stations with flagship stations broadcasting a mainstream/classic rock music format in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, 37 regional stations broadcasting a modern adult contemporary/adult hits format and 5 digital radio stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Cross Austereo</span> Australian media company

Southern Cross Media Group Limited, doing business as Southern Cross Austereo, is an Australian media company which operates broadcast radio and television stations. It is the largest radio broadcaster in Australia, operating 86 radio stations, and has a reach into every state and territory.

Ugly Phil O'Neil is a radio DJ/announcer. He was born in the United Kingdom, and lived the majority of his life in Australia. Before adopting the on-air name of Ugly Phil he was known on-air as Phil O'Neil. Phil has hosted the Hot30 Countdown, Drive at Nova 969, and Evenings at Triple M several times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SAFM</span> Radio station in Adelaide, South Australia

SAFM is a commercial FM radio station owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo as part of the Hit Network. The station is broadcast to Adelaide, South Australia from studios in Franklin Street.

Triple M Perth is a commercial radio station owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo as part of the Triple M network. The station is broadcast to Perth, Western Australia from studios in Subiaco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea FM</span> Former Australian radio network

Sea FM was an Australian radio network, consisting of stations in Queensland and NSW owned by Southern Cross Austereo. Some Sea FM stations were later sold to meet media ownership requirements. Prime Television Limited purchased Sea FM Townsville in Queensland and Grant Broadcasters purchased Sea FM stations in Devonport and Burnie in Tasmania. All Sea FM stations currently owned by Southern Cross Austereo except Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton / Gladstone, are part of the Hit Network after Southern Cross Media merged with Austereo.

hit104.7 is a commercial FM radio station broadcasting in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, on a frequency of 104.7 MHz, and is part of Southern Cross Austereo's Hit Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hit 100.9</span> Radio station in Hobart, Tasmania

hit100.9 Hobart is commercial FM radio station owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo's Hit Network based in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

Sam "Sam Mac" McMillan is an Australian television host, weather presenter, and entertainer. He was a 2019 Gold Logie Nominee and is currently the weather presenter on Seven Network's breakfast show Sunrise.

Paul Campion is an Australian radio host and recipient of the Australian Commercial Radio Award for best music personality. In 2013 he was acknowledged at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards for 25 years of service to the industry. He is currently breakfast presenter on River 94.9 in Ipswich.

Hughesy & Kate was an Australian radio station drive show on the Hit Network. The show was hosted by Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek with anchor Jack Laurence. In addition to the national radio drive show, an inflight version was also produced and available in audio podcast section of inflight entertainment on Qantas fleets.

Triple M Adelaide is a radio station broadcasting in Adelaide, Australia. Its target demographic is the 30–54 age group. Triple M Adelaide is part of Southern Cross Austereo's Triple M network and broadcasts on the 104.7 MHz frequency.

SAFM 96.1 is an Australian commercial radio station based in Mount Gambier, South Australia, owned by Southern Cross Austereo. It commenced broadcasting on 16 May 1998 under the name FM 96.1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Choose the Hits</span> Radio station in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth

Choose The Hits was an all request Australian national Digital Radio station. It was run by Austereo and was renamed on 1 February 2010. Previously the station was trialed with the name Hot30 Jelli, launching on November 27, 2009. The radio station ceased broadcast on 21 May 2010.

Radio Gaga was a pop up digital radio station broadcasting nationally in Australia while Lady Gaga toured the country in 2010. The station was part of Austereo's Today Network and only played Lady Gaga's music.

Caravan Radio was a pop up Digital Radio station that broadcast nationally in Australia while Hamish & Andy tour the United Kingdom in 2010 on their fourth Caravan of Courage journey. The station is part of the Austereo Today Network.

<i>The Dan & Maz Show</i> Radio show

The Dan & Maz Show was an Australian breakfast radio show with Dan Debuf and Maz Compton.

Weekend Breakfast was an Australian radio station breakfast show on the Hit Network. The show aired from 7 am to 9 am on weekend mornings with music and daily topic discussions and special guests. News, sport, weather and traffic updates were presented throughout the show.

Triple M Gippsland is a commercial radio station owned and operated by Southern Cross Austereo as part of the Triple M network. The station is broadcast to townships in the Gippsland region of Victoria from studios in Traralgon.

References

  1. ↑ "hit107 | Adelaide's Hit Music Station revealed". Radio Today (Australia). 16 October 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  2. ↑ "SCA's Today stations to rebrand as Hit". Radioinfo.com.au. 17 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Canberra's Hit104.7 Arrives". Radio Today (Australia). 15 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "#HitHobart". Radio Today (Australia). 4 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  5. ↑ Battersby, Lucy (26 September 2016). "60 regional radio stations to become Triple M or Hit Network". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  6. ↑ Challenor, Jake (27 July 2020). "Hit Network set for biggest overhaul in half-decade". Radio Today (Australia). Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  7. ↑ Challenor, Jake (20 August 2020). "Confirmed: SCA's Hit Network axes 19 regional breakfast shows". Radio Today (Australia). Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  8. ↑ Martin, Melissa (20 August 2020). "Southern Cross Austereo makes staff cuts across Australia, breakfast shows are networked". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  9. ↑ Hoffman, Lily (18 November 2020). "Perth radio shake up: New Triple M station, Xavier Ellis, Juelz Jarry and Pete Curulli breakfast show axed". The West Australian. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  10. ↑ Austereo finds new digital partner [ permanent dead link ] - themusic.com.au 26 January 2010
  11. ↑ Hamish & Andy get their own station with Caravan of Courage Radio - mUmBRELLA, 24 May 2010
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