7HOFM
| Company type | Commercial radio station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Radio broadcasting |
| Founded | August 13, 1930 |
| Founder | Ron Hope |
| Headquarters | Hobart , Australia |
Area served | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
| Products | Radio broadcasting (Adult contemporary music format) |
| Owner | ARN (Australian Radio Network) |
| Website | www |
7HOFM (with the call sign 7HHO) ranks among the trio of commercial radio broadcasters serving Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It commenced transmissions on 13 August 1930, marking Hobart's inaugural commercial radio outlet.
The station originally operated on 890 kHz AM before shifting to 860 kHz in 1935 and later adjusting to 864 kHz in 1978. Contrary to common belief, the "HO" in its designation derives from the surname of its founder, Ron Hope, rather than the city name. On 1 November 1990, 7HO transitioned to FM broadcasting at 101.7 MHz, adopting the call sign 7HHO and launching under the brand "Mix 101 HOFM." Subsequent rebranding led to the simpler "HOFM," and from 5 November 2007, it embraced its present identity as "7HOFM." The first FM announcer was Brett Marley.
Currently owned by ARN, 7HOFM delivers local content and news while maintaining an adult contemporary music format.
Cooke and Moore
From 1982 onward, the station featured a popular breakfast comedy program helmed by Bob Cooke and Richard Moore. Cooke exited in the late 1990s to focus on woodworking, with Moore retiring in 2013. Prior to their radio careers, both hosted a children’s television show on Hobart's TVT-6 and performed live stage routines.
Their comedic approach was characterized by straightforward, accessible humor reminiscent of Daryl Somers during his stint on Hey Hey It's Saturday. They created fictional personas including Mickey Finn and Knocker Knowles—a used car dealer paired with his simple-minded AFL footballer sidekick—alongside Vinnie and the V8s, a band famous for 'Outside Coles on a Saturday Night,' Whimmo the Wonder Clown, and the R-Rated Cowboy. Their humor leaned heavily on character interplay and incorporated risqué elements and suggestive wordplay.
7HO and DAB+
In early 2019, 7HO expanded its reach by commencing commercial broadcasts via DAB in Hobart. Holding commercial FM operator status, it secured a position on the new DAB multiplex run by Digital Radio Broadcasting Hobart Pty Ltd. This multiplex transmits at 20,000 watts on frequency 202.928 MHz with vertically polarized signals from Mt Wellington’s Broadcast Australia facility—the same location as 7HO's FM transmitter.
Alongside ARN’s KIX Country station, 7HO is accessible on DAB. On 1 June 2019, a locally produced digital-only station named 7HO Classic Hits was introduced, offering a blend of classic tracks and talk segments. This includes Tasmania Talks airing weekdays from 9 am to noon, complemented by Grant Broadcasters’ local news updates at the start of each hour.
Acquisition by ARN
In November 2021, ARN acquired 7HO along with other stations formerly owned by Grant Broadcasters. This transaction allows these stations to leverage ARN’s iHeartRadio platform across regional markets. The acquisition was completed on 4 January 2022. According to ARN’s announcement, while integrating with ARN’s KIIS Network is planned for 7HO, it will maintain its established branding.
The Hobart Jingle
7HO achieved international attention through a well-known advertising jingle promoting Hobart that aired on London’s Capital Radio via Chris Tarrant. The jingle became a running joke culminating in Tarrant broadcasting his morning show from the studios of 7HO during his visit to Australia.