Digicel shuts down Loop News, to close SportsMax by August

Digicel has announced the immediate closure of its Caribbean-wide news platform Loop News and revealed plans to wind down regional sports broadcaster SportsMax by August 8.

In a statement on Tuesday, the telecommunications giant said the move is part of a strategic pivot from consumer-facing media to scalable, enterprise-grade services within Digicel Business.

“This is a strategic repositioning to ensure Digicel is best placed to deliver secure, scalable services for the future,” said Liam Donnelly, Group Chief Business Officer.

“While we are proud of the legacy of SportsMax and Loop News, we are now focused on where we can create the greatest value for our customers and the communities we serve.”

It noted that impacted staff had already been advised and that transition support would be provided in line with local labour laws.

SportsMax, launched in 2002, featured local, regional, and international premier sporting content.

It is also hailed for helping to forge the careers of many successful on-air and behind-the-scenes talents.

Similarly, Loop News, founded in 2014, quickly became a trusted source of news, winning several awards and building an engaged community of readers and viewers.

Digicel says its new focus will centre on Trend Media and the recently acquired Symptai, allowing it to offer an expanded suite of ICT services, including cloud, cybersecurity, digital advertising, and compliance.

These offerings, it noted, will be supported by strategic partnerships and a growing demand for end-to-end managed solutions across the region.

“We extend our gratitude to the teams behind these brands and to the audiences who welcomed them into their lives,” Donnelly said.

“Their work has left a lasting mark, and we thank them for it. Likewise, we would like to thank the readers and viewers of Loop News and SportsMax for spending time with us over the years. It’s been a privilege to inform and entertain you.” (Jamaica Gleaner)