Digicel shuts down Loop News, winds down SportsMax

Digicel has announced the immediate closure of Loop News and the winding down of SportsMax by August 8, marking the end of two of the Caribbean’s recognisable media brands.

The telecoms giant said the move reflects a strategic pivot away from consumer-facing content to focus instead on enterprise solutions and digital services through its business arm.

“As we reposition Digicel for the future, our focus is on delivering secure, scalable enterprise-grade services,” 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 communities.”

SportsMax, founded in 2002, became a hub for regional and international sports coverage and helped launch the careers of several Caribbean sportscasters. Loop News, launched in 2014, had grown into one of the region’s most widely used digital news platforms.

In a message on its main website, Loop News bid farewell to the region.

“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,” stated in its message,

‘Loop News Bids the Caribbean a Grateful Goodbye’.

“We’re proud of what we have achieved and of the people who came on the journey with us. Since our inception, Loop has become a trusted source of news, winning several awards and building a passionate, engaged community of readers and viewers. 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.

“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,” it continued.