Rogers Sports & Media has made a round of job cuts, spanning multiple markets.
More than two dozen staff are impacted across the company’s radio and podcasting divisions, including managerial and administrative positions at some stations.
Among the markets impacted is Vancouver where JACK FM National Music Curator Terry Chan has been released after almost 35 years with the company. Additionally holding the title of Assistant Content Director at JACK 96.9 (CJAX-FM) Vancouver, Chan first joined Rogers in 1990 as an announcer, Music Director and Assistant Program Director at KISS 97.
Alex Carr has also been released by SONIC 104.9 (CKKS-FM) Vancouver. One of the last dedicated voices on the Alternative station, he had most recently been heard in the 6 a.m. – noon time slot, following a number of on-air and behind-the-scenes shuffles at the station, culminating in last month’s departure of Christian Hall, JACK FM National Content Director and Content Director for SONiC and JACK FM Vancouver.
Rogers has also released Jeff McKnight, the Imaging Producer behind its SONiC branded stations in Edmonton and Vancouver, STAR 95.9 (CHFM-FM) Calgary, and its network of Adult Contemporary stations.
On the podcasting side, Jordan Heath-Rawlings, who hosted and executive produced the Frequency Podcast Network’s daily news pod, The Big Story, has parted ways with the company. He’d been with Rogers since 2011. Mary Jubran, who had been an Audience Development Specialist and Digital Editor at Frequency for the past four years, is also a casualty.
A Rogers Sports & Media spokesperson told Broadcast Dialogue that Tuesday’s layoffs are the result of ongoing pressure on the bottom line as the industry continues to adjust to the reality of an uncertain advertising market and declining revenue.
The spokesperson said that’s resulted in the need to adjust operating expenses to set a new path for Rogers’ radio and audio business to compete in the current environment.
“With the radio industry continuing to feel the pressure of an uncertain advertising market, we made some difficult but necessary changes in our audio business impacting roles in several markets. We recognize and thank the team members who are leaving us for their dedication to our listeners and advertisers,” the spokesperson said, adding that there would be no impact to programming at the affected stations and no station closures.
