The Hit Network started in 1980 as the Austereo Network, with Austereo securing the first commercial FM licence in Adelaide in 1980. SSA FM would be joined by Fox FM in Melbourne in 1986, B105 FM Brisbane in 1988 and 2DAY FM in Sydney in 1989. The network also grew through joint-ventures in Canberra with 104.7 and NXFM in Newcastle. Austereo expanded into Perth in 1998 when it purchased PMFM, now known as hit92.9, although it wasn't until 2005 that the station exclusively joined the Today Network, after also being affiliated with sister stationTriple M for many years and taking programming from both networks. The network was previously known as Today's Austereo Network and the Today Network. After Austereo was purchased by Southern Cross Media, it began incorporating its regional CHR network into the Today Network. Only some of its Sea FM stations, including those in Hobart and the Gold Coast, began adopting similar branding to the metropolitan stations. In December 2014, Southern Cross Austereo announced that, off the back of re-branding SAFM as hit107, the network would be re-branded as Today's Hit Network. The rebrand took place on Wednesday 14 January 2015 - by mid-2015, the station would drop the Today moniker as the Hit Network. In December 2015, Southern Cross Austereo and Australian Radio Network announced that FM104.7 will re-brand to hit104.7 on Monday 18 January 2016. In February 2016, Southern Cross Austereo forged ahead with rolling out the Hit Network branding to more markets. The launch saw the regional centric Sea FM Hobart brand dropped to be replaced with hit100.9. In December 2016, all Star FM and Hot FM stations were re-branded with the Hit branding, however Sea FM on the Gold Coast, Central Coast and Bundaberg retained their Sea FM name but adopted the Hit logo. Bundaberg's Sea FM station has since been re-branded and joined the Triple M Network. On July 27th, 2020, the Hit Network adopted a new logo, and also announced major changes to some of its metropolitan and regional stations. These changes include the rebranding of Brisbane's Hit 105 and Adelaide's Hit 107 back to their heritage names B105 and SAFM respectively, in an attempt to regain their leading positions in those markets. The network also introduced a new mood-based music strategy featuring a combination of big pop hits of now and familiar songs from past decades.
Stations
As of July 27th, 2020, the Hit Network consists of 40 FM radio stations with their slogan of "Get that Feeling". ACT
Weekend Breakfast with Dylan Alcott & Angus O’Loughlin
Ash London Live & Local
Digital radio
The Hit Network simulcasts each metro station in the network on digital radio in their local markets.
Hit Buddha, The very best music that soothes your mind and feeds your soul. Buddha Hits lets listeners chill out with pop, electronica and acoustic vibes with a café music feel.
Hit Oldskool, Oldskool Hits is pure pop nostalgia. Focused around the 90s and 00s, it’s all about flashback favourites.
Hit Easy, an up-tempo, feel good, sing-along format of mainstream faves. Easy Hits is perfect for at-work and at-home listening.
Hit Urban, Playing the Hottest Hip-Hop and RnB.
Hit Dance, Launched in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide on Friday 22 November 2019 on Digital Radio.
The digital stations in each market are branded inline with their FM counterparts. Choose The Hits was a station only broadcast on digital radio 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.
