Sportsnet 960 pulled off the air as Calgary loses sports radio

It has been a dark day for the Canadian sports media landscape.

Following the abrupt closure of Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver on Tuesday morning, similar news has come out of Calgary, with Sportsnet 960 also being pulled off the air. The station was running its usual morning programming, but abruptly changed to dead air as the day progressed.

Daily Hive can confirm that Sportsnet 960 is among six total radio stations across Canada that will be closed “due to declining audience and revenue trends,” which also includes the closure of fellow Calgary station 660 News.

“After a thorough review of our radio stations across the country, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to close Sportsnet 960 and 660 News in Calgary,” an emailed statement from Rogers read.

“We are grateful to our listeners and to our team for their contributions to the local community.”

The station was the only all-sports radio station in Calgary, and its absence now leaves a massive hole in the city’s sports coverage.

Daily Hive has confirmed with Rogers that Sportsnet will no longer produce Flames radio broadcasts. It remains to be seen if the Flames can find another outlet for fans to listen to games on the radio next season.

Sportsnet 960 first started broadcasting under the CFAC call-sign in 2011 and has been the home of Calgary sports radio ever since. It was the official radio station for the NHL’s Flames, AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, and WHL’s Calgary Hitmen.

The station also carried live Toronto Blue Jays coverage.