Hobart FM - History

History

Hobart FM Incorporated applied for and was granted a Public Radio Licence in 1977 under the auspices of the Tasmanian College of Advanced Education at Mount Nelson.

Originally using the call sign 7CAE FM the station became the first FM radio station in Tasmania (it was briefly preceded by "ABC FM", but this station was broadcast from mainland Australia)'

Initially the station followed a similar format to "ABC FM" - i.e. classical - but rock, folk and other genres began to creep into its schedule.

7 CAE FM broadcast a wide range of specialist programs, and by the early 1980s was heavily rock-oriented. It changed its callsign to "THE FM" (used along with 92 FM depending on the whim of individual announcers) in April 1982.

Following the college's relocation to Launceston in 1980, Hobart FM Inc. assumed the full responsibility in the running of the station, subsequently moving premises to the Hobart CBD on the mid-1980s, where it continued to operate a lively and alternative radio service.

In March 1992 the station re-located to 17 Alma Street, Bellerive, where it is has remained to this date (September 2009). At around this time the programming became less rock-oriented, and began to gravitate towards country-rock, though it continued its role as Community Broadcaster in line with specialist music programs, community access and multicultural presentations, as well as information programs covering a wide and varied range of subjects.