Digicel Shuts Down Loop News After 11 Years, Plans to Close SportsMax

Digicel announced Tuesday the immediate closure of its Caribbean-wide news platform Loop News and plans to wind down regional sports broadcaster SportsMax by August 8, marking the end of two prominent media brands in the region.

The telecoms giant said the move represents a strategic pivot away from consumer-facing content toward a greater focus on enterprise solutions and digital services under its business arm.

In a farewell statement, Loop News said: “They say all good things must come to an end and so it is, that after 11 years of proudly serving the Caribbean as a trusted media partner, Loop News is today announcing the end of our operations.”

“Since our inception, Loop has become a trusted source of news, winning several awards and building a passionate, engaged community of readers and viewers,” the statement continued. “As we reflect on over a decade of journalism and community impact, we are deeply grateful for the relationships we have built and the stories we have told.”

Loop News acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating: “This decision marks the end of an era. While it wasn’t an easy choice, we believe it is the right one for this moment.”

Loop News, launched in 2014, had established itself as a popular regional digital news outlet covering Caribbean affairs. SportsMax, founded in 2002, was home to high-profile sporting content and played an instrumental role in the careers of numerous Caribbean broadcasters.

Digicel said affected staff had already been informed and that transition support would be provided in line with local labour laws.

Loop News had one Antiguan reporter.

The company indicated its new focus will center 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 solutions.

In closing, Loop News stated: “We would like to say thank you for the incredible support we have received from our readers and viewers across the Caribbean and beyond over the years and are deeply honoured to have been a part of your daily lives.”

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.