Rogers Sports & Media has announced the closure of six radio stations in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and Kitchener, resulting in the elimination of 230 jobs. The company confirmed that this decision affects 80 individuals directly employed at the shuttered stations, with the remaining 150 job cuts comprising corporate roles, such as sales, marketing, and a few positions in TV and radio, as well as a small number from other divisions outside of media.
The closures are part of a strategic move following a comprehensive review of the company’s radio stations nationwide. Rogers expressed gratitude to both its listeners and team members for their contributions to the local communities. Specifically, in Vancouver, the shutdown includes Sportsnet 650 and News 1130, while in Alberta, 660 NewsRadio Calgary and Sportsnet 960 are impacted.
Listeners tuning in to News 1130 in Vancouver and the affected stations in other cities were met with pre-recorded messages and reruns. Alexander Carrigan, a traffic reporter at News 1130, shared his surprise at hearing the closure announcement while driving to work, emphasizing the importance of the traffic service to the community.
Addressing the closures on social media, B.C. Premier David Eby expressed regret over the loss of the stations and highlighted the value of local news outlets for British Columbians. Meanwhile, industry experts like Jeffrey Dvorkin noted that media organizations, including Rogers, are adapting to changing revenue dynamics and audience trends by consolidating media platforms.
Rogers cited declining audience numbers and revenue trends as key factors in the decision, with low listener figures for sports radio in Vancouver and Calgary contributing to the closures. The company reassured that it would continue broadcasting Vancouver Canucks games on another owned station while discontinuing Calgary Flames broadcasts on radio.
Despite the closures, Toronto’s Sportsnet 590 remains operational, and Rogers maintains 44 radio stations across nearly 30 Canadian communities. The announcement came 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 multi-billion dollar deal.
Experts like April Lindgren from the Local News Research Project at Toronto Metropolitan University highlighted the ongoing challenges of “news poverty” in Canada due to successive cuts in local news outlets. The loss of such sources, she explained, could have adverse effects on democracy by limiting public information and fostering misinformation.
In conclusion, the radio station closures reflect broader industry shifts and economic realities, prompting companies like Rogers to reevaluate their operations amid evolving media landscapes.
