Canada's Radio Shakeup
Rogers Sports & Media shuts six radio stations nationwide amid revenue declines, cutting 230 jobs.
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Rogers also laid off about 150 employees nationwide in addition to the 80 positions tied to the six-station shutdown, highlighting that the impact extends beyond the immediate closures.
2
The job cuts include a mix of corporate, sales, marketing and programming roles—roughly half of the 230 total cuts in those areas—with some unionized TV newsroom staff in Toronto and Vancouver set to enter a voluntary departure program in August.
3
Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver was Vancouver’s last full-time sports radio station, marking a shift away from dedicated local sports radio in the market.
4
Rogers stated that local news coverage will continue in impacted markets through CityNews despite the station closures.
5
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles criticized the closures, calling local journalism essential and expressing sympathy for staff and listeners affected.
Rogers Sports & Media is shutting down six radio stations across Canada and cutting roughly 230 jobs, the company announced this week. The closures affect stations in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and Kitchener, citing falling audience numbers and advertising revenue, according to Cartt.ca.
About 80 on-air staff at the six stations will lose their jobs. An additional 150 employees across corporate, sales, marketing, and programming roles will also be cut, CTV News reported.
Six Stations Go Dark Across Four Markets
The stations being shut down are Sportsnet 650 and News 1130 in Vancouver, NewsRadio Calgary's 660 AM and 960 AM, NewsRadio Halifax 95.7, and 570 NewsRadio in Kitchener. Rogers says it will return all six broadcast licenses to the CRTC, Canada's broadcasting regulator, according to Cartt.ca.
Sportsnet 650 was Vancouver's last full-time dedicated sports radio station. Calgary Flames radio production will also end entirely. Vancouver Canucks game broadcasts will move to another Rogers-owned station in the market, CTV News reported.
Layoffs Extend Well Beyond the Closed Stations
The 230 job cuts go far beyond the 80 roles tied directly to the six shuttered stations. The other roughly 150 cuts span corporate, sales, marketing, and production staff across the broader Rogers Sports & Media division, according to Cartt.ca.
Some unionized TV newsroom staff in Toronto and Vancouver will enter a voluntary departure program starting in August, CTV News reported. Rogers says it will still operate 44 radio stations in nearly 30 communities across Canada after the closures take effect.
Backlash Grows From Staff, Listeners, and Politicians
The closures sparked an immediate and angry reaction. Former employees and loyal listeners described feeling blindsided. Now Toronto reported widespread backlash, with one reaction described as being "absolutely gutted" by the news.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles called local journalism essential and voiced sympathy for affected workers and listeners. Rogers pushed back, saying CityNews will continue to provide local news coverage in all impacted markets despite the radio shutdowns.
Traditional Radio Losing Ground to Digital Platforms
Rogers framed the closures as a response to long-running industry trends. Listener habits have shifted sharply toward streaming, podcasts, and digital platforms. Ad revenue that once supported local radio has followed audiences online, leaving legacy stations increasingly hard to sustain.
The six shuttered stations represent a concentrated exit from markets where those trends hit hardest. Rogers still holds a major radio footprint across Canada, but the cuts signal that even large broadcasters are no longer willing to absorb losses on underperforming legacy stations, according to CTV News BC.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
40
Articles
92
Reach
132
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
