Roundhouse Radio CEO Don Schafer said making Monday’s announcement that the station will likely be closing at the end of the month was probably the most difficult day of his career.
“I thought we had a great idea,” he told the Courier. “I’m heartbroken that it wasn’t more successful.”
News broke Monday afternoon that the independent station, which started in October 2015, will have to go off the air at the end of the month. Schafer said the decision was purely financial.
“We’ve not been profitable,” he said, adding that the station’s losses over the last two and a half years have been a challenge. He said that the board of directors made the call that, unless an outside investor or buyer steps up to save the station, the station will close on April 30.
He said he is both proud of the work the station, which he describes as having an NPR edge and finding a place between CBC and stations such as CKNW, has done. He’s disappointed that it hasn’t been successful financially, adding that he feels a personal responsibility to the station’s employees.
“I am very proud of the work we do,” he said. “I think we make a difference in the city.”
The station has received an outpouring of support from listeners and those in the industry.
“I’m overwhelmed and humbled,” Schafer said. “The reaction has been phenomenal. I’m quite taken aback, frankly.”
This is horrible. Roundhouse was a great independent radio voice for Vancouver. Really disappointing. It also had some top shelf talent like @jodyvance https://t.co/mePcSIDBRN
— Rob Shaw (@robshaw_vansun) April 17, 2018
Just heard roundhouse radio is shutting down! saaaaaaad :(
— Mehdi Nasiri (@smehdinasiri) April 17, 2018
@Roundhouse983 save this fabulous station. Independent heart driven team if the best you’ll find! Save roundhouse radio!
— Yvonne Evans (@YvonneGlobal) April 17, 2018
@JessicaEKerr
jkerr@vancourier.com
