Rogers Sports & Media is set to close six radio stations across four Canadian cities, resulting in the loss of 230 jobs as part of cost-cutting measures. The affected cities include Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and Kitchener.
A spokesperson for Rogers confirmed that the closures will directly impact 80 employees at the shuttered stations, with an additional 150 job cuts affecting corporate roles such as sales, marketing, and a few positions in TV and radio. The decision to close the stations was described as “difficult but necessary” following a comprehensive review of the company’s radio stations nationwide.
The affected stations include Sportsnet 650 and News 1130 in Vancouver, and 660 NewsRadio Calgary and Sportsnet 960 in Alberta. Listeners in Vancouver were greeted with pre-recorded messages on News 1130 and re-runs on Sportsnet 650. Additionally, NewsRadio Halifax and NewsRadio Kitchener will also be shutting down.
Commenting on the closures, B.C. Premier David Eby expressed disappointment, emphasizing the importance of local news outlets for the community. Meanwhile, industry experts like Jeffrey Dvorkin noted that media organizations, including Rogers, are adapting to changing market dynamics by consolidating media platforms to improve profitability.
Rogers cited declining audience and revenue trends as reasons for the closures, with recent data showing low listenership for sports radio in Vancouver and Calgary. While the company will continue to broadcast Vancouver Canucks games on one of its remaining radio properties, it will no longer produce Calgary Flames broadcasts for radio.
The move comes amid a broader trend of news outlet closures in Canada, leading to concerns about “news poverty” and its impact on democracy. Research indicates a significant decline in local news outlets since 2008, raising worries about misinformation and lack of accountability in public discourse.
Despite the closures, Rogers emphasized its commitment to maintaining operations at Sportsnet 590 in Toronto and operating 44 radio stations in nearly 30 communities across Canada. This decision follows Rogers Communications’ recent acquisition of full ownership of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, in a multi-billion-dollar deal.
Overall, the closure of the radio stations reflects the evolving media landscape in Canada and the challenges faced by traditional broadcasters in an increasingly digital age.
