Rogers Communications Inc. has shut down Sportsnet 960 and 660 News in Calgary, a move that eliminates the city's primary source of locally-produced sports radio content. The announcement came on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, just one day after Rogers revealed its $4.35 billion purchase of the remaining 25% stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
Station's local content unmatched
Sportsnet 960 provided extensive Flames coverage, including three hours of morning content on The Big Show, an afternoon show at 1 p.m., and Flames Talk hosted by Pat Steinberg, often leading into live game broadcasts. On game nights, Steinberg hosted a post-game call-in show long after other media had left. The station also covered other local teams, with Matt Rose regularly attending Stampeders games and Logan Gordon covering the Wranglers.
"Nowhere else in the city did you get that much locally-sourced and produced sports content. Not even close," wrote Calgary Herald columnist Daniel Austin.
Impact on Flames coverage
Sportsnet is the Flames' regional broadcast rights partner, having extended their exclusive partnership for 11 more seasons in 2024. The Flames did not immediately issue a statement on the decision and will need to develop alternative radio broadcast plans.
"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," Rogers said in a statement. "We are grateful to our listeners and to our team for their contributions to the local community."
Reaction from media and fans
Sports journalist Eric Francis tweeted: "Sad day for all my talented brethren on Fan 960, which closed shop today. They should all be very proud of the work they did, helping make the station a staple in Calgary for Flames news. Sad day for Flames fans too, as it was always the go-to for the latest on the team."
The closure means as much as 12 hours of daily hockey content—including reporting, analysis, debate, and live coverage of games, signings, trades, and draft picks—will no longer be on the air. The crew included Pat Steinberg, Meaghan Mikkelson, Derek Wills, Logan Gordon, Matt Rose, and George Rusic, who were regulars at practices, games, and locker rooms.
Broader loss for sports fans
Austin noted that Wills and Mikkelson were among the few media members who still travelled with the Flames, and Steinberg was the best-connected person in that group. The loss extends beyond hockey, with Rose covering the Stampeders for nearly a decade and Gordon providing coverage of the Wranglers. "Good people tend to land on their feet and great talent will find a way. We haven't heard the last of any of them. But for sports fans in Calgary, losing Sportsnet 960 is a crushing blow," Austin concluded.
