Rogers Radio

Rogers Radio is the radio broadcasting division of Rogers Sports & Media, which is owned by Rogers Communications. Its business consists primarily of commercial radio stations serving audiences in several Canadian provinces, supported by digital audio and podcast activities. The division's stations use a mixture of national network identities and local brands, including Jack FM, KiSS, Sportsnet Radio, NewsRadio, Country, Rock, SONiC and Mountain FM. The radio operation traces its origins to Ted Rogers's acquisition of Toronto FM station CHFI-FM in 1960. That transaction provided the starting point for Rogers's involvement in Canadian radio and was followed over subsequent decades by further station and station-group acquisitions. Rather than operating under a single uniform on-air format, Rogers Radio has used a portfolio model: stations may focus on music, news, sports, country programming or other locally relevant formats, while the wider Rogers organization supplies national media brands, sports content and digital distribution capabilities. Rogers Radio operates in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Ontario. Its assets have included major-market stations as well as outlets serving smaller communities. The division's activities therefore combine local broadcasting obligations with the commercial and promotional advantages of belonging to a large Canadian communications and media group. Radio programming has also been connected with Rogers's broader sports and news businesses, including Sportsnet-branded audio and radio coverage of professional sports. The portfolio has contracted and changed over time through licence returns, station sales and closures. In October 2023, Rogers ended the CityNews radio service in Ottawa and returned the CIWW licence to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. In 2025, the CRTC approved the sale of CKOT-FM and CJDL-FM in Tillsonburg and CJET-FM in Smiths Falls to My Broadcasting Corporation. Rogers Sports & Media later announced a substantial restructuring for July 2026, involving 230 positions and the closure of six stations in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax and Kitchener. The company cited declining audience and revenue trends, said the affected licences would be returned to the CRTC, and outlined changes to its radio sports coverage. As described in the available reference material, Rogers said that after the announced closures and earlier divestitures it would continue to own and operate 44 radio stations in nearly 30 Canadian communities. The division's present identity is consequently that of a scaled, multi-market commercial radio portfolio within a broader telecommunications, sports and media company, rather than an independent standalone broadcaster.

Rogers's involvement in radio began in Toronto in 1960, when Ted Rogers acquired CHFI-FM. The purchase established the foundation of what would become the company's radio business. Rogers subsequently expanded its presence through acquisitions of additional stations and station groups, building a geographically distributed portfolio rather than limiting the business to one metropolitan market or one programming format. Over time, the radio division became part of the wider Rogers communications and media structure. Its stations operated in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Ontario, with a combination of large urban outlets and stations serving smaller communities. The portfolio included music, news, talk, sports, country and rock formats. Some stations were identified with broader Rogers brands such as Jack FM, KiSS, Sportsnet Radio, NewsRadio, Country, Rock, SONiC and Mountain FM, while others retained local identities. Alongside terrestrial broadcasting, Rogers Radio developed associated digital audio and podcast properties. The division's relationship with the rest of Rogers's media operations has been particularly visible in sports and news. Rogers's broader ownership of Sportsnet enabled sports-oriented radio programming and live game coverage, while CityNews branding was used for radio news in some markets. These connections gave the radio business access to recognizable national media properties, although the stations continued to depend on local audiences, advertising and market-specific programming. The portfolio later entered a period of rationalization. In October 2023, Rogers discontinued its CityNews radio service in Ottawa and returned the CIWW licence to the CRTC. In 2025, the regulator approved the sale of three other stations—CKOT-FM and CJDL-FM in Tillsonburg and CJET-FM in Smiths Falls—to My Broadcasting Corporation. These changes reduced Rogers's direct ownership in selected communities and illustrated the role of regulatory approval in Canadian radio transfers. On July 7, 2026, Rogers Sports & Media announced a further restructuring. The company said it would eliminate 230 positions and close six stations: CKWX and CISL in Vancouver, CFFR and CFAC in Calgary, CJNI-FM in Halifax and CKGL in Kitchener. Rogers linked the action to declining audience and revenue trends and said the affected licences would be returned to the CRTC. The announcement also changed the company's sports-radio footprint: Vancouver Canucks game production was to move to another Rogers-owned Vancouver station, while Rogers would cease producing Calgary Flames radio broadcasts. According to the available reference material, after the closures and earlier divestitures Rogers said it continued to own and operate 44 radio stations in nearly 30 Canadian communities. Rogers Radio is therefore best understood as an evolving Canadian commercial-radio division inside a diversified communications group. Its history reflects both long-term expansion through acquisitions and periodic portfolio reduction in response to market performance, regulatory requirements and changing audience economics.

1. 2026Rogers announces six station closures

   Rogers Sports & Media announced 230 job cuts and the closure of six stations in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax and Kitchener.

   Source
2. 2025CRTC approves transfer of three stations

   The CRTC approved the sale of CKOT-FM, CJDL-FM and CJET-FM to My Broadcasting Corporation.

   Source
3. 2023Ottawa CityNews radio service discontinued

   Rogers ended the CityNews radio service in Ottawa and returned the CIWW licence to the CRTC.

   Source
4. 1960Ted Rogers acquires CHFI-FM

   Ted Rogers's purchase of Toronto FM station CHFI-FM marks the beginning of Rogers's radio operations.

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A Canadian multi-market commercial radio portfolio combining local station brands and programming with Rogers's national sports, news and digital-media capabilities.

• Commercial radio stationsBroadcasting1960

  Rogers Radio's core offering is a network of commercial terrestrial radio stations operating across Canadian provinces. The stations serve local communities while using a range of music, news, talk, sports and other programming formats. Their business model combines broadcast content with local advertising and sponsorship.

• Sportsnet RadioSports broadcasting

  Sportsnet Radio is the sports-oriented part of the Rogers radio portfolio. It connects radio programming with Rogers's wider Sportsnet media business and has supported live sports coverage and related discussion programming. The exact station footprint and sports rights can change as Rogers restructures individual markets.

• Music-format stationsMusic radio

  Rogers operates or has operated music stations under identities including Jack FM, KiSS, Country, Rock, SONiC and Mountain FM. These brands allow the group to target different demographic and musical segments while retaining local station operations in their respective markets.

• Digital audio and podcastsDigital media

  In addition to broadcast signals, Rogers Radio has associated digital audio and podcast properties. These extend station content beyond scheduled terrestrial programming and provide additional distribution channels within Rogers's broader digital-media ecosystem.

• 2026Restructure radio portfolio and close six stationsStrategy

  Rogers Sports & Media cited declining audience and revenue trends as the context for a major radio restructuring.

  What changed. The company announced 230 position reductions and the closure of CKWX, CISL, CFFR, CFAC, CJNI-FM and CKGL. It said the affected licences would be returned to the CRTC.

  Aftermath. Vancouver Canucks radio production was to move to another Rogers-owned Vancouver station, while Rogers would stop producing Calgary Flames radio broadcasts. Rogers said it would continue operating 44 stations in nearly 30 communities after the changes.

  Positions affected. 230 positions reduced (Announced July 2026)

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• 2025Sell three Ontario stations to My Broadcasting CorporationM&A

  Rogers sought to transfer ownership of CKOT-FM and CJDL-FM in Tillsonburg and CJET-FM in Smiths Falls.

  What changed. The CRTC approved the sale of the three stations to My Broadcasting Corporation.

  Aftermath. The stations left the Rogers Radio portfolio after regulatory approval.

  Source
• 2023Discontinue Ottawa CityNews radio serviceStrategy

  Rogers reviewed its Ottawa radio operations and ended the CityNews service associated with CIWW.

  What changed. The service was discontinued and the CIWW licence was returned to the CRTC.

  Aftermath. Rogers withdrew from that specific Ottawa radio operation; no financial outcome is stated in the available material.

  Source

• 2026Rogers Sports & Media announces radio station closures and job reductions

  Rogers Sports & Media announced 230 position reductions and the closure of six stations: CKWX and CISL in Vancouver, CFFR and CFAC in Calgary, CJNI-FM in Halifax and CKGL in Kitchener. The company attributed the decision to declining audience and revenue trends.

  OtherLeadership change
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• 2026Rogers changes radio coverage of Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames

  Following the announced station closures, Rogers said Vancouver Canucks radio production would move to another Rogers-owned Vancouver station, while the company would stop producing Calgary Flames radio broadcasts.

  Product generation
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• 2025CRTC approves sale of three Rogers stations to My Broadcasting Corporation

  The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved the transfer of CKOT-FM and CJDL-FM in Tillsonburg and CJET-FM in Smiths Falls to My Broadcasting Corporation.

  M&ARegulation
  Source
• 2023Rogers ends CityNews radio service in Ottawa and returns CIWW licence

  Rogers discontinued its CityNews radio operation in Ottawa and returned the CIWW broadcasting licence to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

  OtherRegulation
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1. Rogers Radio