Calgary sports radio poised for comeback after Rogers shutdown
Five weeks after Sportsnet 960 vanished, new outlets are set to announce coverage for Flames games and sports talk.
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Calgary's sports radio landscape is about to shift again. Five weeks after Rogers abruptly shut down Sportsnet 960 without warning, a new sports radio announcement is imminent, marking a potential end to the city's all-sports drought.
Sportsnet 960 was Calgary's only dedicated sports station until Rogers Sports & Media eliminated it in July, citing declining audience and revenue trends. The closure left Flames fans and sports listeners scrambling for coverage and left the team without a broadcast home for the 2026-27 season.
The specifics of what's coming remain unclear. The new outlet or outlets could follow Edmonton's model, where Sports 1440 and Edmonton Sports Talk emerged after Bell pulled the plug on TSN 1260 in 2023. It's also unknown whether Flames games will air on a local radio station, move to a digital broadcast, or land elsewhere entirely — some U.S.-based NHL teams have moved games to in-house digital platforms in recent years.
Changes to Flames broadcasting have already extended beyond radio. Kelly Hrudey, an analyst on Flames broadcasts last season alongside Jon Abbott and Brendan Parker, was let go by Sportsnet and is being replaced by Kevin Sawyer, who is moving from TSN where he called Winnipeg Jets games.
When will the announcement happen and which station or platform will broadcast it?
Will Calgary Flames games be available locally, and on which outlet?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
When did Rogers shut down Sportsnet 960?
Rogers shut down Sportsnet 960 in July 2026, citing declining audience and revenue trends.
Why did Rogers eliminate Sportsnet 960?
Rogers Sports & Media eliminated Sportsnet 960 due to declining audience and revenue trends.
Who replaced Kelly Hrudey on Flames broadcasts?
Kevin Sawyer replaced Kelly Hrudey as an analyst on Flames broadcasts. Sawyer moved from TSN, where he called Winnipeg Jets games.
