Rogers Sports and Media shut down six radio stations on Tuesday, including Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary [1].
The closures signal a significant shift in the company's broadcasting strategy as it seeks to reduce costs through a broader corporate restructuring. These moves eliminate established local sports voices and reduce the company's terrestrial radio footprint in Western Canada.
The restructuring involves the elimination of 230 jobs [2]. A Rogers spokesperson said 80 of those cuts are in radio [2].
Among the stations closed are Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary, alongside four other stations [1]. The sudden nature of the closures left some staff and listeners unaware until the stations went off the air.
"If you got up this morning expecting to listen to Mike Halford and Jason Brough on Sportsnet 650, you know by now they were gone," a report from MSN said [3].
The company has not provided detailed specifics regarding the remaining four stations affected by the closures. However, the move is part of a cost-cutting initiative designed to streamline operations across the media wing [2].
The decision to shutter these outlets follows a period of industry-wide volatility in traditional radio as audiences migrate toward digital streaming, and podcasts. By reducing its workforce by 230 positions [2], Rogers is prioritizing a leaner operational model.
“Rogers Sports and Media shut down six radio stations on Tuesday.”
The simultaneous closure of six stations and the elimination of over 200 jobs indicates that Rogers is aggressively pivoting away from traditional AM/FM radio overhead. By targeting sports-specific stations in major markets like Vancouver and Calgary, the company is likely consolidating its sports content into digital platforms where advertising can be more precisely targeted and operational costs are lower.
