89.3 LAFM

89.3 LAFM
AM (1930–1978);
Call sign meaning	7 – Tasmania; LAA – Homage to final AM callsign 7LA (LAunceston)
Technical information
Transmitter coordinates	41°26′23″S 147°08′17″E / 41.439743°S 147.137945°E
Translator(s)	100.3 FM Launceston CBD
Links
Website	89.3 LAFM

89.3 LAFM (callsign: 7LAA) is an Australian radio station in Tasmania. Owned and operated by

ARN, it broadcasts an adult contemporary format to Launceston and surrounding areas. First broadcast on 14 December 1930 as 7LA,^[1] the station currently broadcasts from studios in York Street, alongside sister station 90.1 Chilli FM. 89.3 LAFM also has a station in Scottsdale

named 540 7SD which currently broadcasts on 540 kHz.

History

Established as 7LA in 1930, the station was formerly operated under various networks, including

Macquarie Regional RadioWorks

. In 1978, the station shifted frequency to 1098 AM as part of a nationwide frequency move on the AM band, changing from 10 kHz spacing to 9 kHz.

In 2002, television station ABNT-3 vacated VHF channel 3, opening up space for further FM radio services in Launceston. In 2005, it was announced that 7LA, along with 7EX and ABC Northern Tasmania were to move to the FM band - 7LA on 89.3, 7EX on 90.1 and ABC Northern Tasmania on 91.7.^[2] In 2008, the station relaunched as 89.3 LAFM,^[3] with the AM service ceasing transmission in February 2009.

Today, the station networks the majority of its programming to Scottsdale-based 7SD.

In November 2021, 89.3 LAFM, along with other stations owned by

Australian Radio Network. This deal will allow Grant's stations, including LAFM, to access ARN's iHeartRadio platform in regional areas. The deal was finalized on 4 January 2022.^[4] It is expected LAFM will integrate with ARN's Pure Gold Network

, but will retain its current name according to the press release from ARN.