Rogers Sports & Media President to Retire After 35 Years at TV Giant

Colette Watson, President of Rogers Sports & Media, will retire from the Canadian television giant after a 35-year career, the company announced in Toronto on March 19, 2025. Her departure marks the end of a significant leadership tenure that began in 2022, a period defined by the company's strategic pivot to compete in the rapidly evolving streaming and digital entertainment landscape. Watson's retirement concludes a long and influential career that began at Rogers in 1990. She ascended through various leadership roles before being appointed to the presidency, where she was tasked with steering the traditional broadcast powerhouse through a period of intense industry disruption. Her tenure was characterized by significant investments in digital infrastructure and content designed to attract younger, streaming-focused audiences, moving beyond Rogers' legacy cable and sports broadcasting foundations. The announcement has sparked immediate speculation about the future direction of Rogers Sports & Media, a key division of Rogers Communications. Industry analysts note that finding a successor who can balance the profitability of traditional linear TV and sports rights with the high-growth, but costly, demands of digital streaming will be a critical challenge. Watson's exit is seen as a pivotal moment for one of Canada's largest media conglomerates as it navigates the post-linear television era.