Rogers Sports & Media has announced the closure of six radio stations located in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and Kitchener, resulting in the loss of 230 jobs. The company disclosed that the affected stations include Sportsnet 650 and News 1130 in Vancouver, along with 660 NewsRadio Calgary and Sportsnet 960 in Alberta. NewsRadio Halifax and NewsRadio Kitchener will also cease operations.
The decision to shut down these stations, affecting 80 direct employees and 150 individuals in corporate roles such as sales, marketing, and a few positions in TV and radio, was described as a “difficult but necessary” move following a comprehensive review of their radio stations nationwide. The company expressed gratitude to both their listeners and staff for their contributions to the local community.
Listeners in Vancouver were surprised to hear a recorded message on News 1130 and re-runs on Sportsnet 650. News 1130 traffic reporter Alexander Carrigan shared his shock upon learning about the closure while driving to work and hearing the announcement on-air. British Columbia Premier David Eby lamented the loss of the stations, emphasizing the importance of local news outlets for the province.
Jeffrey Dvorkin, former director of the journalism program at the University of Toronto, noted that the industry is witnessing media organizations seeking ways to satisfy shareholders by consolidating media platforms. Rogers cited declining audience and revenue trends as the primary reasons for the closures, with recent data showing low audience numbers for sports radio in Vancouver and Calgary.
April Lindgren, co-director of the Local News Research Project, highlighted the impact of continuous media cuts on Canadians, leading to “news poverty.” She underscored the importance of local news in democracy and accountability and pointed out the rise of misinformation in the absence of reliable news sources.
Despite the closures, Rogers confirmed that radio production of Canucks games will be moved to another station owned by Rogers Sports & Media, while there are no plans for Calgary Flames games production on radio. The company assured that Sportsnet 590 in Toronto remains operational, with Rogers still managing 44 radio stations in nearly 30 Canadian communities.
These developments followed Rogers Communications’ acquisition of full ownership of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, for $4.35 billion, buying out Kilmer Sports Inc.’s 25% stake in the company.