Rogers shuts down several sports radio stations effective immediately

Vancouver has long been one of Canada's most passionate hockey cities, home to a fervent Canucks fanbase that has fuelled sports talk radio for decades. But that tradition took a devastating hit on Monday when reports surfaced that Rogers has pulled the plug on Sportsnet 650, the city's last remaining sports radio station.

According to trending reports online, Rogers shuttered SN650 with what appears to be no advance warning. The closure reportedly took effect immediately.

They also shut down Sportsnet 960 station in Calgary, as well as four other stations across four cities. Calgary’s 660 NewsRadio is also being closed, along with Vancouver’s 1130 AM, Halifax’s 95.7 NewsRadio, and Kitchener’s 570 NewsRadio. It's been reported that 230 positions were cut across the division as it announces it’s shuttering six radio stations.

The move leaves Vancouver without a single dedicated sports radio outlet for the first time in modern memory. It also comes roughly five years after Bell shut down Team 1040, the other major sports radio station in the market, in a similarly abrupt fashion.

Reaction across the sports media community was swift and pointed. Samantha Pell, a media figure who commented on the closure, called the decision "absolutely outrageous and devastating," adding that Rogers had "callously" eliminated the station. She noted that the talented staff who worked at SN650 "deserved better" and that the Vancouver market as a whole "deserves better."

The shutdown raises serious questions about the future of sports radio in major Canadian markets.

The company cited declining audience numbers and lower advertisement revenue for the decision. 

“The media business continues to face headwinds driven by declining advertising revenue and changing audience habits. These changes are part of our plan to focus our investment in areas that will drive growth long-term,” said Rogers spokesperson Zac Carreiro in an emailed statement.

The timing is notable given that the NHL offseason is in full swing, a period when sports radio typically generates significant engagement around free agency, trades, and roster building.

I am absolutely gutted for all the talented folks that have just lost their jobs in Vancouver.