Digicel shutters Loop News and SportsMax in major strategic shift

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN a move that has sent shockwaves through the regional media landscape, Digicel has confirmed the closure of two of its key media brands: Loop News and SportsMax.

The announcement came via a statement from Digicel Group’s Chief Business Officer, Liam Donnelly, who described the decision as part of a broader restructuring strategy.

“This is a strategic repositioning to ensure Digicel is best placed to deliver secure, scalable services for the future,” Donnelly explained.

Loop News, which was launched in 2014, became a well-known digital news outlet across the Caribbean, delivering everything from breaking news to in-depth investigative reports. Over the years, it earned numerous accolades for its journalistic efforts and grew to become a trusted regional voice.

However, signs of trouble had emerged in recent months, with Loop’s operations in countries such as St. Lucia and the Cayman Islands already being scaled back or closed.

In a heartfelt message posted to its website, Loop News reflected on its journey: "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.”

The message continued: “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."

The company's sports broadcasting arm, SportsMax, is also set to wind down. Based in Jamaica and founded in 2002, SportsMax has been a major force in sports coverage across the Caribbean, broadcasting premier regional and international sporting events — including the highly anticipated CARIFTA Games each Easter weekend.

Media reports indicate that SportsMax will officially cease operations on August 8.

Further, Digicel Group confirmed the closures as part of a decisive pivot in business direction: "As it deepens its focus on the enterprise market, Digicel Group today announced the planned wind-down of its SportsMax and Loop News business units. The move marks a deliberate pivot from consumer-facing media to scalable, enterprise-grade services within Digicel Business."

Affected employees have reportedly been notified, and Digicel emphasized that the transition will support its expanded focus on integrated business services.

"With the recent 100% acquisition of Symptai, Digicel Business now offers an integrated suite of ICT services - including cyber, cloud, digital media, and compliance, supported by strategic partnerships and a growing demand for end-to-end managed solutions across the region."

Meanwhile, Trend Media, which previously managed Digicel’s media platforms, will remain under the Digicel Business umbrella. The company will now focus more heavily on ad tech and digital media management for brands, according to the release.

As the curtain falls on two of the region’s most recognizable media brands, Digicel’s shift underscores the evolving nature of the Caribbean’s digital and media ecosystem — and leaves many in the industry reflecting on what comes next.