Rogers Sports and Media is the latest in the media and communications sector to eliminate jobs. The announcement will impact 230 jobs, 80 of which are from radio, as six radio station closures are expected in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and Kitchener.
The company cited declining audience numbers and lower advertising revenue as the reason for the decision, but it has come under scrutiny in those markets for those who are losing their familiar airwave personalities and programming.
In a statement, the company explained the “difficult but necessary decision” followed a “thorough review of our radio stations across the country. We are grateful to our listeners and to our team for their contributions to the local community.”
The decision means Sportsnet 650 and News 1130 will no longer be enjoyed in the Vancouver market, while 660 NewsRadio Calgary and Sportsnet 960 will be impacted in Alberta. NewsRadio Halifax and NewsRadio Kitchener have also closed. Rogers will continue to operate 44 radio stations in 30 Canadian cities.
Corus also made the decision to cut dozens of media jobs across the country, citing declines in radio and television advertising sales. It plans to “centralize production” though a centralized location has yet to be specified.
Unifor says the job cuts will impact 28 jobs in Alberta, two in British Columbia, five in Winnipeg, two in Saskatoon, three in the Maritimes, and three in Ontario.
Corus shares have plunged nearly 70 percent over the past year, proof of mounting financial challenges. The latest quarter closed with $1.16 billion debt on its balance sheet, much of which is attributable to its 2016 purchase of Shaw Media for $2.65 billion. All of this follows a major cut to Bell Canada’s workforce, where 700 jobs were axed. In 2024, parent company BCE cut nine percent of its workforce, or around 4,800 jobs, impacting dozens of radio stations and television newscasts. This indicates a greater trend of consolidation in media, which has come at the expense of local news and the role it serves in a rich and vibrant democracy, but the decisions have been made, and listeners have little recourse but to adapt to what is available on the market.
