Rogers Shuts Down Six Radio Stations, What It Means for Canada's Local Media Landscape

By Troy Tyrell, WBN News Vancouver

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Rogers Sports & Media has announced one of the largest restructurings of its broadcasting division in recent years, eliminating 230 positions across the company and shutting down six radio stations in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and Kitchener.

Among the closures are two stations that have been part of Vancouver's media landscape for years: 1130 NewsRadio and Sportsnet 650. The move also affects 660 NewsRadio and Sportsnet 960 in Calgary, NewsRadio 95.7 in Halifax, and 570 NewsRadio in Kitchener. Rogers says approximately 80 of the job losses are directly tied to the station closures, while the remaining cuts affect television, digital, programming, sales, marketing, and corporate operations.

For Vancouver, the impact is especially significant. The closure of Sportsnet 650 leaves the city without a dedicated sports radio station, while the loss of 1130 NewsRadio ends decades of continuous local news, traffic, and weather coverage that many commuters relied on every day.

Rogers says the decision reflects changing audience habits and declining revenue from traditional radio advertising. More Canadians are consuming news, sports, and entertainment through podcasts, streaming platforms, social media, and digital news services instead of conventional radio broadcasts.

The announcement is another reminder of the challenges facing Canada's traditional media industry. Bell Media, Corus Entertainment, and other broadcasters have also reduced staffing and closed stations over the past several years as audiences continue to migrate online.

Despite these changes, the demand for trusted local journalism has not disappeared. If anything, the need for reliable community reporting remains as important as ever. The challenge for media organizations is finding sustainable business models that allow local news to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

As the media landscape continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: Canadians still value local stories. The platforms delivering those stories may change, but the importance of accurate, timely, and community-focused journalism has never been greater.

By Troy Tyrell, Founder of Tsquared Personal Training
WBN Contributor | Community Builder | Mountain Biker | Advocate for Local Business & Fitness

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Tags: Rogers Sports & Media, Vancouver Radio, 1130 NewsRadio, Sportsnet 650, Canadian Media, Broadcasting, WBN News Vancouver

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