By Connie Thiessen
Rogers Sports and Media is cutting 230 positions across the division as it announces it’s shuttering six radio stations.
The stations, set to go off the air today, include 1130 NewsRadio (CKWX-AM) Vancouver; Sportsnet 650 (CISL-AM), Vancouver’s last remaining sports radio station; 660 NewsRadio (CFFR-AM) Calgary; 960 AM (CFAC-AM) Calgary; NewsRadio 95.7 (CJNI-FM) Halifax; and 570 NewsRadio (CKGL-AM) Kitchener.
A Rogers Sports and Media spokesperson said those licenses will be returned to the CRTC.
Employees across the country were notified this morning, with 80 connected to the radio station closures. Overall, about half of the positions impacted are corporate and support roles across sales, marketing, and programming, in addition to primarily production and…
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Rogers on Monday announced it has signed an agreement to buy the remaining 25-per-cent ownership stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) from Larry Tanenbaum’s holding company Kilmer Sports Inc. for $4.35 billion, giving the cable giant sole ownership in the sports empire.
“This is a defining moment for Rogers. Our full ownership of MLSE brings together Canada’s premier communications company with Canada’s premier sports and entertainment organization,” Tony Staffieri, president and CEO of Rogers, said in a Monday press release. “It gives us even more opportunity to invest in championship-calibre teams, create unique…
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The CRTC on Tuesday launched a proceeding requiring Bell, Telus and Rogers to show cause why fees they have introduced recently are not in violation of the telecom regulator’s prohibition on activation and modification fees, which came into effect on June 12.
The proceeding, open to comments from the public, is being launched following CRTC warnings to Bell over its new $40 device handling fee, to Telus over its $15 SIM purchase fee, and to Rogers over its $40 device setup fee — charges…
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By Connie Thiessen
As excitement around the FIFA World Cup continues to grip audiences, Stingray is attempting to unite global soccer fans with the launch of a new pop-up music channel dedicated to the world’s biggest sport.
Running through July 31, with launch dates varying by platform, Stingray Soccer Anthems features “the world’s most iconic stadium songs, global hits, and fan-fueled chants that define the spirit of the game.”
Tailored to local audiences, outside Canada and the U.S., the channel will be branded as Stingray Himnos del Fútbol in Mexico and Spain, and Stingray Hinos de futebol in Brazil.
Musical selections will span…
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A week after questioning Rogers about its new device setup fee and other charges to customers, the CRTC has sent the wireless giant a new letter asking about its intention to add a $5 monthly charge to its customers’ bills starting next month.
“I have been informed today that Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Rogers) informed its mobile wireless customers through a note on their billing statement that it intends to add a $5 monthly charge to their mobile wireless customers’ bills as of 15 July 2026, calling it…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Using precedent, the Federal Court is entering relatively new territory in the site-blocking era, as it ordered internet service providers Monday to block websites that allow people to turn streaming music videos into free downloadable audio files.
Trade group Music Canada brought the action on behalf of its members, including Sony, Universal, and Warner, which targeted such “stream ripping” websites that allow users to input URLs of music videos from YouTube and turn them into downloadable and permanent MP3 files.
“The stream ripping platforms operated by the John Doe Respondents circumvent the security measures implemented by YouTube in order…
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It was probably only a matter of time, but the CRTC has now turned its attention to new device setup charges and SIM fees that Rogers is charging customers, following the telecom regulator’s ban on activation fees that took effect June 12.
The CRTC has already taken Rogers competitors Bell and Telus to task over new fees those two telcos recently introduced that the commission has said do not appear to fall under the exemption for optional services and products in its new policy prohibiting fees for activating, modifying and cancelling mobile and internet plans.
In a Continue Reading
Rogers Sportsnet and CBC announced Tuesday that Canada’s national public broadcaster will no longer carry NHL broadcasts.
As the national media rightsholder for NHL games, Rogers had been sub-licensing to CBC the rights to nationally televised regular season games on Saturday nights as well as playoff games, up until the end of the current season. That sub-licensing deal was initially signed in November 2013, as part of Rogers’s exclusive 12-year, $5.2-billion broadcast agreement with the NHL, which gave Rogers all of the national rights to NHL games starting with the 2014-15 season…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Quebecor’s Videotron is asking the CRTC to get involved in adjusting the wholesale roaming access prices charged by SaskTel, which would reverse over a decade of regulatory forbearance.
In a Part 1 application with redactions made public Monday, Videotron is claiming it is being forced to pay unfairly high wholesale roaming prices to the dominant wireless service provider in Saskatchewan with no regulatory avenue because the CRTC in 2015 excluded the Crown corporation from the policy that regulated those rates for market power players Rogers, Bell, and Telus. However the regulator “retained the power to…
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Rogers Sports and Media on Tuesday announced its 2026-27 slate of new and returning programming across its specialty channels HGTV, Food Network, Discovery and Bravo.
HGTV’s lineup includes the first fruits of Rogers Sports and Media’s previously announced exclusive production deal with home renovation experts Bryan and Sarah Baeumler. Announced Tuesday, the Baeumlers will produce and star in two new Canadian original series for HGTV — Baeumler Ranch (working title) and Sarah Baeumler by Design — as well as host HGTV’s new Canadian original Home Town Takeover Canada series going into production later this month.
Other new shows coming to HGTV…
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