Rogers closes Vancouver radio station, laying off 80 journalists across Canada
News radio CKNW and sports station SPORTSNET 650 shut down July 7, eliminating local breaking news coverage as MPs call for stronger media oversight.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rogers Sports & Media shut down its Vancouver news and sports radio stations on July 7, eliminating at least 80 jobs across Canada. The company also closed stations in Calgary, Kitchener, and Halifax the same day.
The closures mark a devastating blow to Canada's already-fragile news industry, with staff learning of the decision minutes before the stations went silent. One reporter described hearing a voice on-air say "Thank you for listening. This is our last day on air" before the signal cut to static.
The move means Vancouver no longer has a dedicated news radio station or sports broadcast outlet, leaving the city without an essential platform for local breaking news and traffic updates. The frequencies will stop broadcasting local content entirely.
Rogers cited declining advertising revenue and changing audience habits as reasons for the closures. The company said broadcast audiences have been declining for over a decade, making radio unprofitable despite past commitments to preserve local media in Western Canada.
Multiple Members of Parliament are calling for action. Kitchener Centre MP Kelly DeRidder said the closures contradict Rogers' pledge to create jobs following its 2023 merger with Shaw, and has called on the House of Commons to mandate Rogers keep stations open, designate local news radio as an essential service, and launch a public inquiry into the closures.
Unifor national president Lana Payne called the layoffs "another devastating blow" to local journalism.
The facts
How many jobs did Rogers eliminate in these radio closures?
Rogers Sports & Media eliminated at least 80 jobs across Canada when it shut down its Vancouver news and sports radio stations on July 7, 2026, along with stations in Calgary, Kitchener, and Halifax.
Which Vancouver radio stations closed?
News radio CKNW and sports station SPORTSNET 650 closed on July 7, 2026, leaving Vancouver without dedicated local news or sports broadcast outlets.
Why did Rogers close these stations?
Rogers cited declining advertising revenue and changing audience habits, noting that broadcast audiences have been declining for over a decade and making radio unprofitable despite past commitments to preserve local media in Western Canada.
What is MP Kelly DeRidder calling for?
Kitchener Centre MP Kelly DeRidder has called on the House of Commons to mandate Rogers keep stations open, designate local news radio as an essential service, and launch a public inquiry into the closures.
