The Hit Network is an Australian

commercial radio Commercial broadcasting (also called private broadcasting) is the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media, as opposed to state sponsorship, for example. It was the United States' first model ...

network owned and operated by

Southern Cross Austereo Southern Cross Media Group Limited, Trade name, doing business as Southern Cross Austereo, is an Australian media company which operates broadcast radio and Terrestrial television, television stations. It is the largest radio broadcaster in Au ...

. The network consists of 41 radio stations broadcasting a

hot adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the 1980s to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul ...

music format, as well as 6

digital radio Digital radio is the use of digital technology to transmit or receive across the radio spectrum. Digital transmission by radio waves includes digital broadcasting, and especially digital audio radio services. This should not be confused with In ...

stations.

History

The Hit Network was formed in 1986 as the Austereo Network after Austereo, the licensee of Adelaide

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 Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...

and Newcastle. The network would later become known as the ''Today Network'', with stations adopting a

contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio (CHR, also known as contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top ...

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, with a staggered network-wide relaunch announced in December. On 14 January 2015, the network was relaunched as Today's Hit Network, with the relaunch extending to Canberra in January 2016. Sea FM Hobart was relaunched as Hit100.9 in February, with the remaining network stations adopting the Hit Network branding as part of a national brand consolidation in December. 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. 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 New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

and Victoria, replacing 19 local shows. On 1 December 2020, Mix 94.5 Perth switched affiliation from the

Triple M 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 B ...

network to the Hit Network, with Hit92.9 relaunching as 92.9 Triple M.

Stations

, the Hit Network consists of 41 FM radio stations. ACT * hit104.7 Canberra NSW * 2Day FM 104.1 Sydney * hit101.3 Central Coast * hit105.9 Central West * hit105.5 Coffs Coast * hit102.3 & 105.1 Mid North Coast * hit106.9 Newcastle * hit93.1 Riverina * hit99.7 Riverina MIA * hit104.9 The Border QLD * B105 Brisbane * hit103.5 Cairns * hit Central Queensland * hit100.7 Darling Downs * hit94.7 Emerald * hit101.9 Fraser Coast * 90.9 Sea FM Gold Coast * hit100.3 Mackay & the Whitsundays * hit Maranoa * hit102.5 Mount Isa * hit89.1 South Burnett * hit97.9 Tablelands * hit103.1 Townsville SA * SAFM 107.1 Adelaide * SAFM 96.1 Limestone Coast TAS * hit100.9 Hobart VIC * 101.9 The Fox Melbourne * hit91.9 Bendigo * hit Goulburn Valley * hit 99.5 Sunraysia WA * Mix 94.5 Perth * hit95.3 Albany * hit101.3 Broome * hit99.7 Carnarvon * hit102.3 Esperance * hit96.5 Geraldton * hit97.9 Kalgoorlie * hit106.5 Karratha * hit Northwest * hit91.7 Port Hedland * hit Southwest * hit Wheatbelt * hit WA

Network shows

*'' Carrie & Tommy,'' Weekdays 3 pm – 6 pm *'' The Hot Hits with Nic Kelly and Loren Barry,'' Monday to Thursday 7 pm – 10 pm *''Lucy & Nikki'', Friday 7 pm – 10 pm and Saturday 5 pm – 8 pm *'' The Hot Hits with Nic Kelly and Loren Barry,'' Saturday 3 pm – 5 pm *''The Saturday Night Party Playlist,'' Saturday 9 pm – 12 am *''The Pulse with Seany B,'' Sunday 6 pm – 8 pm

Local shows

2Day FM - Sydney * ''The Jimmy & Nath Show with Emma'', Weekdays 6 am – 9 am Fox FM - Melbourne * ''Fifi, Fev & Nick'', Weekdays 6 am – 9 am B105 FM - Brisbane * ''Stav, Abby & Matt'', Weekdays 6 am – 9 am SAFM - Adelaide * ''Emma & Bernie'', Weekdays 6 am – 9 am Hit104.7 - Canberra * ''Wilko & Courts'', Weekdays 6 am – 9 am Hit100.9 - Hobart * ''Dan & Christie'', Weekdays 6 am – 9 am Mix 94.5 - Perth * ''Pete & Kymba with Ben Cousins'', Weekdays 6 am – 9 am

Digital radio

As of April 2024, the Hit Network broadcasts an additional 6 radio stations on DAB+ digital radio and the LiSTNR app. Choose The Hits was a station only broadcast on

and ran between 1 February 2010 and 24 May 2010. 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.Hamish & Andy get their own station with Caravan of Courage Radio
- mUmBRELLA, ''24 May 2010''

References

External links

Hit Network
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hit Network Australian radio networks Hot adult contemporary radio stations in Australia