DigiCel Pulls Out Of Caribbean News Coverage
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FHIST NEWS -
July 9, 2025 at 10:40 PM -
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Digicel has announced the immediate closure of its Caribbean-wide news platform Loop News and plans to wind down regional sports broadcaster SportsMax by August 8th.
The telecoms giant says the move marks a strategic pivot away from consumer-facing content to a greater focus on enterprise solutions and digital services under its business arm.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Digicel said affected staff had already been informed and that transition support would be provided in line with local labour laws.
Loop News, launched in 2014, had built a reputation as a popular regional digital news outlet. SportsMax, founded in 2002, was home to a range of high-profile sporting content and was instrumental in the careers of numerous Caribbean broadcasters.
The company 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.
Digicel thanked its audiences and employees, acknowledging the legacy of the two media brands but stating that the shift was necessary to create greater value in its business offerings across the region.
One of the affected workers said that yesterday was a very difficult day for all involved, as no one wants to lose their jobs.
“It’s business, and I accept that difficult decisions have to be made. While I wasn’t expecting this news yesterday, I knew something like this was coming after the shutdown of our markets in Barbados, St Lucia, and Haiti. So I was prepared. I’m proud of my time at Loop. The good, bad, and ugly. We were disruptors and innovators in the local and regional media landscape. I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to it,” the worker shared.
Former regional Lifestyle and Culture manager for Loop News Laura Dowrich-Phillips said while the end came suddenly, it was not unexpected.
“Over the last two years, a lot of people have been sent home. They’ve been shuttering different departments in Digicel, and it was inevitable. I believe that, you know, a lot of the apps would have been shut down because, at the end of the day, it’s about, you know, if it’s profitable, and I guess it’s a business decision, so I’m not surprised by it,” Dowrich-Phillips said.
Visitors to the LOOP News websites were met with a single page announcing the closure of the News Service and saying "goodbye"
