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Digicel Shuts Down Loop News and SportsMax in Major Media Exit

Editor — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:50:49 +0000

Digicel has confirmed it is exiting the media industry, shutting down two of the Caribbean’s most recognisable media brands—Loop News and SportsMax. The company announced in July that Loop News has ceased operations effective immediately, while SportsMax will end its final broadcast on 8 August.

The move marks the end of Digicel Media, which once operated across multiple islands and employed over 100 journalists, producers, editors, and media workers throughout the region. The company cited a strategic shift in focus toward its information and communications technology (ICT) portfolio and digital advertising services.

“This decision supports Digicel’s long-term plan to focus on ICT growth, including recent investments in Symptai and the expansion of Trend Media,” a Digicel spokesperson said in a written statement.

According to a notice to customers signed by Rob Lyons of Digicel BVI, the following channels will be discontinued: SportsMax 1, SportsMax 2, SportsMax+, SportsMax Cricket, and SportsMax Racing.

Founded in 2014, Loop News quickly became a leading digital source for regional and local news across the Caribbean, while SportsMax, launched in 2002, established itself as the premier sports broadcaster in the region, delivering live coverage of international sporting events and Caribbean competitions. The closure of both outlets signals a significant shift in the regional media landscape.

“It’s a tremendous loss for regional journalism and a devastating blow to the sports community,” said a former SportsMax producer who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly. “This was more than a business unit—it was a voice for the region.”

The company said employees were notified and would be provided with transition assistance, although no further details have been disclosed regarding severance or job placement support.

Media analysts say the closure reflects wider economic pressures on traditional and regional media houses, which continue to face challenges posed by digital disruption, declining advertising revenue, and the rise of automated content. The end of two well-known brands underlines what some see as an increasingly precarious future for independent journalism in the Caribbean.

“This is part of a global trend, but the Caribbean media ecosystem is particularly vulnerable,” said Dr. Janice McLean, a media studies lecturer at the University of the West Indies. “Local content production and storytelling are often among the first casualties when corporate priorities change.”

Digicel’s withdrawal comes amid broader consolidation in the telecom and media sectors as companies seek to optimise operations and shift resources toward more profitable ventures. The company has not announced any new media initiatives to replace the shuttered brands.

As SportsMax prepares to go off the air in August, questions remain about how the gap in regional sports broadcasting and digital journalism will be filled—and what comes next for the displaced media professionals now facing uncertain futures.

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