About Hit Radio FFH

Hit Radio FFH

Hit Radio FFH is one of three programmes produced by the FFH Mediengruppe (alongside planet radio and harmony.fm) — and, by listener numbers, Germany's second-largest private radio station after Antenne Bayern. FFH stands for "Funk und Fernsehen Hessen" (Broadcasting Hesse). Founded as "Radio FFH" on 15 March 1988 by 50 shareholders — including 36 Hessian newspaper publishers plus national publishers, the Hessian Farmers' Association and the State Sports Federation — after deregulation of the Hessian radio market under Minister-President Walter Wallmann, it began broadcasting on 15 November 1989 in Frankfurt am Main. Since 2001 it broadcasts from the Funkhaus in Bad Vilbel under the slogan "Einfach näher dran" ("Simply closer"). The owner is the Radio/Tele FFH GmbH & Co. Betriebs-KG; managing director Marco Maier (since 2019, succeeding Hans-Dieter Hillmoth, programme director since 1989).

Overview

Hit Radio FFH is a private current-based AC broadcaster for all of Hesse and adjacent areas. From its very first Media Analyse it was market leader in Hesse ahead of hr3. The FFH Mediengruppe — Germany's second-largest private broadcasting group — also operates planet radio (launched 21 April 1997, targeting young listeners, ahead of Radio Bob and You FM since July 2017) and 80er-Radio Harmony (harmony.fm, launched 1 September 2003, a pure-music station for 35–59-year-olds). The group employs about 150 people.

History

Founded 15 March 1988, the station's first home was a former Tipp-Ex factory in Frankfurt-Rödelheim. On 6 November 1989 it became the first private radio in Hesse to receive a broadcasting licence — publishers had already invested several million DM before licensing. Broadcasting started with 55 staff on 15 November 1989 at 4:55 a.m. with news read by Uwe Hackbarth; the first show was "Guten Morgen Hessen!", the first song "Flying through the air" by Oliver Onions. New frequencies at the Großer Feldberg and Hoher Meißner followed in April 1992; a traffic helicopter was used from May 1992 (replaced by a plane in July 1997); a promotional airship from September 1993; by 1993 the station covered all six Hessian regions. On 25 April 1995 FFH changed its image to Hit Radio FFH; satellite transmission began August 1995, internet early 1996; regional studios grew to six (Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Fulda, Gießen, Kassel, Wiesbaden). Since 20 August 1997 all songs play in digital format. The move to Bad Vilbel was decided in May 1998, construction March 2000–June 2001; the last song from Frankfurt was "Time to say goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli, the first from Bad Vilbel "Music" by Madonna on 24 June 2001.

Programming

The current-based AC full programme plays hits for a broad adult audience with Hessian regional news from six regional studios, traffic and service — under the slogan "Einfach näher dran".

Coverage & Audience

Hit Radio FFH broadcasts via 56 FM frequencies across Hesse and adjacent areas, on DAB+, cable, satellite and worldwide livestream. By listener numbers it is Germany's second-largest private radio station after Antenne Bayern.

Ownership

The owner is the Radio/Tele FFH GmbH & Co. Betriebs-KG, based in Bad Vilbel, managed since 2019 by Marco Maier. The group is Germany's second-largest private broadcasting group.

Digital Presence

The station operates ffh.de with a livestream alongside apps and social media channels, plus the sister programmes planet radio and harmony.fm online. The digital offering carries the station's hits, Hessian news and service on demand, extending the FFH brand beyond the terrestrial footprint.

Founded by 50 Shareholders

Radio FFH was founded on 15 March 1988 by 50 shareholders — including 36 Hessian newspaper publishers plus national publishers, the Hessischer Bauernverband and the Landessportbund Hessen — after Ministerpräsident Walter Wallmann deregulated the Hessian radio market. The first home was a former Tipp-Ex factory in Frankfurt-Rödelheim. On 6 November 1989 FFH became the first private radio in Hesse to receive a broadcasting licence — the publishers had already invested several million Deutschmarks in the station's equipment before the licence was granted. Broadcasting started with 55 staff on 15 November 1989 at 4:55 a.m. with news read by Uwe Hackbarth; the first programme was "Guten Morgen Hessen!", the first music title "Flying through the air" by the Oliver Onions. Hans-Dieter Hillmoth — the company's first employee from 1 April 1989 — built the stations HIT RADIO FFH, planet radio and harmony.fm as programme director (1989–2019) and managing director (1991–2019).

The Helicopter, the Airship and the Move to Bad Vilbel

FFH pioneered radio marketing in Germany: in May 1992 the station employed a helicopter for traffic reports, in September 1993 it added a promotional airship (the "FFH-Luftschiff"), and in July 1997 the helicopter was replaced by an airplane. In 1993 the station was already broadcasting in Hesse's six regions; on 25 April 1995 it was renamed Hit Radio FFH; satellite broadcasting began in August 1995 and internet streaming in early 1996; by September 1995 the number of regional studios had grown to six (Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Fulda, Gießen, Kassel, Wiesbaden). On 29 May 1998 the company decided to move to a new building in Bad Vilbel; construction ran from March 2000 to June 2001, and the station has broadcast from Bad Vilbel since 24 June 2001 — the last Frankfurt title was "Time to say goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli, the first from Bad Vilbel "Music" by Madonna.

Germany's Second-Largest Private Station

Hit Radio FFH is, by listener numbers, the second-largest private radio station in Germany after Antenne Bayern — and the market leader in Hesse since the first Media-Analyse after its founding. The slogan is "Einfach näher dran" ("Simply closer"). The programmes are distributed via 56 FM frequencies; since 2019 Marco Maier has led the company as managing director. The Radio/Tele FFH group is Germany's second-largest private broadcasting group, with planet radio and 80er-Radio Harmony alongside the flagship.

Market Leader Since 1991

Hit Radio FFH went on air on 15 November 1989 as Radio FFH — a week after the fall of the Berlin Wall — with the Oliver Onions classic "Flying through the air". On 25 April 1995 the programme was modernised and renamed Hit Radio FFH. With the first media analysis after its founding it became the market leader in Hesse ahead of hr3 — and has remained so uninterruptedly since 1991. The station broadcasts from the Funkhaus in Bad Vilbel (since 2001) via 56 FM frequencies across Hesse, plus DAB+, cable, satellite and webstream. It is the flagship of the Radio/Tele FFH group, Germany's second-largest private broadcasting group.

The Man Who Built FFH

The station's history is inseparable from Hans-Dieter Hillmoth (1953–2023). On 1 April 1989 the trained communications engineer — volontariat at the Westfälische Nachrichten, television editor at the Hessischer Rundfunk, head of radio at the Münchener Zeitungsverlag — became the first employee of Radio/Tele FFH in Frankfurt am Main. As programme director (from 1989) and managing director (from 1991, sole MD 2004–2019) he built the station, later adding planet radio and harmony.fm. Since the launch he gave all employees Christmas Eve off every year and hosted "Hessische Weihnacht" (5 p.m.–midnight) himself. Hesse's minister-president Bouffier awarded him the Hessian Order of Merit in 2019; he received the Hessian Journalists' Prize for his life's work in 2020/21. He retired in summer 2019 and died on 23 March 2023 at 70. His successor is Marco Maier.

From Weak Frequencies to a Statewide Network

The early years were technically modest: the Rhine-Main area was served only via Frankfurt 100.2 MHz and Wiesbaden 102.0 MHz — "more bad than good" — with the Hoherodskopf transmitter (104.8 MHz) as a reduced-power Feldberg replacement; the powerful basic-network transmitters on the Großer Feldberg and the Hoher Meißner came later. The music then was not yet pure "hit radio": many musical classics shaped a programme that stood out pleasantly from the Hessischer Rundfunk's four waves. Today Hit Radio FFH is a full AC programme for Hesse with strong regional service — the station that turned a November-1989 startup into three decades of uninterrupted market leadership.