Rogers Sports & Media is set to close down six radio stations across four Canadian cities, leading to the elimination of 230 jobs. The affected stations are located in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and Kitchener.
In an announcement made on Tuesday, the company revealed that the closures would directly impact 80 individuals at the shuttered stations. The remaining 150 job cuts involve corporate positions, including sales and marketing roles, as well as a small number of positions in both TV and radio, and a few unspecified roles outside the media division.
According to Rogers, the decision to close the stations was a “difficult but necessary” one following a comprehensive review of their radio stations nationwide. The company expressed gratitude to both their listeners and team members for their contributions to the local community.
In Vancouver, the closures will result in the discontinuation of Sportsnet 650 and News 1130. Similarly, in Alberta, 660 NewsRadio Calgary and Sportsnet 960 will be affected by the shutdown.
Listeners in Vancouver were greeted with a recorded message on News 1130 and re-runs on Sportsnet 650 on Tuesday morning. Additionally, NewsRadio Halifax and NewsRadio Kitchener will also be ceasing operations.
Alexander Carrigan, a traffic reporter for News 1130, shared that he learned about the closure of his station while driving to work, as he heard the announcement broadcast on air. Expressing uncertainty on how to process the news, Carrigan highlighted the significance of the traffic service and the dedicated news listeners.
Following the closures, B.C. Premier David Eby expressed his sentiments on social media, mentioning that the province would miss the presence of the closed stations and emphasized the importance of local news outlets.
The move did not come as a surprise to Jeffrey Dvorkin, former director of the journalism program at the University of Toronto, who noted that media organizations are seeking ways to satisfy shareholders. Rogers cited declining audience and revenue trends as the primary reasons for the decision, mentioning low audience numbers for sports radio in Vancouver and Calgary.
According to April Lindgren, co-director of the Local News Research Project at Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, the ongoing cuts are contributing to “news poverty” in Canada. Lindgren’s research indicates a loss of nearly 200 local news outlets since 2008, posing challenges to democracy by limiting public information and accountability mechanisms.
Rogers announced that it would transfer the radio production of Canucks games to another station under its ownership but will not proceed with producing Calgary Flames games for radio. The company reassured that Toronto’s Sportsnet 590 remains operational, with 44 radio stations in approximately 30 communities across Canada.
These closures coincide with Rogers Communications’ recent acquisition of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, following the purchase of Kilmer Sports Inc.’s 25% stake for $4.35 billion.
Overall, the decision to close the radio stations reflects a broader trend in the media industry, with companies adapting to changing audience preferences and revenue challenges.
