Rogers Sports & Media is set to close six radio stations in four Canadian cities as part of a restructuring effort resulting in the loss of 230 jobs. The affected cities include Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and Kitchener.
The company confirmed that 80 individuals directly employed by the shuttered stations will lose their jobs, while the remaining 150 job cuts will affect corporate positions such as sales, marketing, as well as a few roles in TV and radio, and a small number from other divisions.
According to a company statement, the decision to close the stations followed a comprehensive review of their radio operations across the country. They expressed gratitude to their listeners and staff for their contributions to the local communities.
In Vancouver, the closure will impact Sportsnet 650 and News 1130, while in Alberta, 660 NewsRadio Calgary and Sportsnet 960 will be affected. Listeners in Vancouver were greeted with a recorded message on News 1130 and re-runs on Sportsnet 650.
Additionally, NewsRadio Halifax and NewsRadio Kitchener will also cease operations. Alexander Carrigan, a traffic reporter for News 1130, shared that he learned about the station’s closure while driving to work and hearing the announcement on air.
B.C. Premier David Eby expressed his disappointment over the closures, emphasizing the importance of local news outlets for British Columbians. The cuts were anticipated by Jeffrey Dvorkin, a former director at the University of Toronto’s journalism program, who suggested that media organizations are seeking ways to satisfy shareholders by consolidating their platforms.
Rogers attributed the decision to declining audience and revenue trends, citing low audience numbers for over-the-air sports radio in Vancouver and Calgary. The company plans to continue broadcasting Vancouver Canucks games but will no longer produce Calgary Flames broadcasts for radio.
Despite the closures, Toronto’s Sportsnet 590 remains operational, and Rogers maintains 44 radio stations in nearly 30 communities across Canada. This move comes shortly after Rogers Communications acquired full ownership of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, in a deal worth $4.35 billion.
