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Jay Switzer
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Jay Switzer CM (July 11, 1956 – January 29, 2018) was a Canadian television executive, most noted as a longtime senior executive of CHUM Limited.[1]
Born in Calgary, Alberta and raised in Lethbridge, he was the son of broadcast executives Israel Switzer and Phyllis Switzer.[1] He had his first job in broadcasting as a weekend switchboard operator for Citytv, and then worked as a cable installer for Maclean-Hunter, a director of television pilots and a research analyst for the Financial Post. He attained an MBA from the University of Western Ontario's Ivey Business School,[2] before rejoining Citytv as director of programming in 1983.[1] In that role, he also oversaw the launch and development of MuchMusic, the first of CHUM's forays into ownership and operation of cable channels.[2]
In March 2000, he was named senior vice-president and general manager of the company, before being promoted to president and chief executive officer in 2002.[3] He stepped down in 2007 after CHUM was acquired by CTVglobemedia.[4] He then joined the board of directors of OutTV,[5] and became one of the founding investors in Glassbox Television.[6] In 2011, he was one of the founding partners in the new pay TV film service Hollywood Suite,[7] and joined the board of directors of Shaftesbury Films.[8]
He was married to actress Ellen Dubin.[1]
He died in Toronto of brain cancer.[9]
Honours
[edit]He was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2004.[2]
He was named to the Order of Canada in December 2017.[10] In January 2018, just before his death, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television named him as a recipient of its Board of Directors Tribute award, alongside Margaret Atwood, to honour his work in and commitments to the Canadian broadcasting industry.[11]
References
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- ^ a b c d "Veteran Canadian TV Programmer Jay Switzer Dies at 61". The Hollywood Reporter, January 29, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Jay Switzer (1956-)". Canadian Communications Foundation, 2004.
- ^ "CHUM set to move in new direction?: New CEO Switzer faces numerous major challenges". National Post, December 2, 2002.
- ^ "CHUM CEO Switzer to step down". The Globe and Mail, June 22, 2007.
- ^ "THE BIZ: DEALS AND MOVES IN CANADIAN ARTS". The Globe and Mail, October 23, 2008.
- ^ "GlassBOX Television Inc. Announces $5 million Series A Financing". Canada NewsWire, June 9, 2008.
- ^ "Hollywood Suite to offer HD films on TV 'substantially cheaper' than Netflix: Hollywood Suite to offer HD movies on TV". Canadian Press, August 23, 2011.
- ^ "Shaftesbury Appoints Industry Veteran Jay Switzer to its Board of Directors". Canada NewsWire, August 29, 2011.
- ^ "Canadian Media Veteran Jay Switzer Dies at 61". Billboard. 2017-01-30. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
- ^ "Jay Switzer named to Order of Canada". Playback, December 12, 2017.
- ^ "Canadian Screen Awards: Peter Mansbridge, Karyn Pugliese, Margaret Atwood to be honoured". CBC News, October 30, 2017.
Jay Switzer
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Family background
Jay Switzer was born on July 11, 1956, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. [4] [5] He was the son of Israel "Sruki" Switzer, a pioneering figure in the Canadian cable television industry who built and consulted on cable systems across multiple countries, and Phyllis Switzer, who co-founded the independent Toronto television station CITY-TV. [4] [6] [7] The Switzer family played a foundational role in the development of Canadian cable and independent television broadcasting, with Sruki Switzer's engineering innovations in cable infrastructure and Phyllis Switzer's leadership in launching CITY-TV as one of the country's first major independent stations. [1] [8] This pioneering media legacy surrounded Jay Switzer with the broadcasting world from an early age, providing him with direct exposure to the industry's operations and creative environment through his parents' groundbreaking work. [4] [6]Education and early influences
Jay Switzer earned an undergraduate degree in business from the University of Toronto. [5] He later completed an MBA at the Ivey Business School of the University of Western Ontario in 1983, an experience he described as instilling "quiet strength" to bridge the business and creative sides of media while being surrounded by high-caliber peers that motivated him to excel. [5] [3] Growing up in a family immersed in media and cable television sparked Switzer's early interest in broadcasting. [5] At age 16 in 1972, while still in high school, he began working at Citytv, initially operating the switchboard on late-night shifts and handling calls amid the station's programming, before advancing to floor director and crew chief roles on live Fight Night broadcasts, where he helped assemble rings and managed on-set tasks. [5] [9] During the same period, he worked as a cable installer for Maclean Hunter, gaining practical exposure to the technical side of media delivery. [5] At age 17, Switzer directed television pilots, including one starring Xaviera Hollander. [5] While completing his education, he took on a role as a media research analyst at the Financial Post newspaper in 1979, building analytical skills in media before pursuing his MBA. [5] These formative hands-on roles across production, operations, and research deepened his engagement with television and prepared him for future contributions to the industry. [5]Broadcasting career
Entry into the industry
Jay Switzer returned full-time to CHUM Limited (which owned CITY-TV) in 1983 as Program Manager for CITY-TV and MuchMusic, after earlier part-time work at Citytv starting in 1972 and completing his MBA. [6] [9] In this role, he handled domestic and foreign programming, including the acquisition of Hollywood movie packages and the international distribution of CHUM-produced content. [6] These early programming responsibilities provided hands-on experience in content management and set the stage for his subsequent career progression within the organization.Rise at CHUM Limited
Jay Switzer's rise at CHUM Limited reflected a steady ascent through programming and management roles following his full-time return to the company in 1983. [6] Coming from a media family with early exposure to broadcasting through part-time work at Citytv starting in 1972, he rejoined the CHUM-owned station full-time after completing his education as program manager for CITY-TV and MuchMusic. [9] [5] In this role, he handled domestic and foreign programming, including the acquisition of Hollywood movie packages and the international distribution of CHUM-produced content. [6] He advanced to head CHUM Television International in the early 1990s, overseeing the company's international sales and distribution efforts. [6] In 1995, Switzer was named Vice President, Programming for Chum Television, focusing on the strategic direction of the group's television programming. [5] His progression continued with his appointment in March 2000 as Senior Vice-President and General Manager for all television and related services from CHUM's Toronto operations. [6] In October 2000, he was promoted to President of CHUM Television, responsible for overseeing the Toronto-based television operations. [6] [5] As a longtime senior executive at CHUM Limited, Switzer held progressively responsible positions over more than two decades, contributing to the expansion and management of the company's television portfolio. [9]Leadership and innovations at CHUM
Jay Switzer's leadership at CHUM Limited reached its peak when he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in November 2002, succeeding founder Allan Waters, a role he held until June 2007 following the company's acquisition by CTVglobemedia. [6] [4] During this tenure and in prior executive roles, he oversaw the continued development of CHUM's specialty television portfolio and the international expansion of key brands originating from CITY-TV, including MuchMusic, while guiding strategic decisions that strengthened the company's position in Canadian broadcasting. [6] Notable expansions during his time at CHUM included the 2001 acquisition of CKVU in Vancouver while President of CHUM Television, which bolstered CHUM's conventional television presence across Canada. [6] Switzer had earlier played a foundational role in one of CHUM's most significant innovations, co-writing the successful CRTC licence application for MuchMusic in 1983, which enabled the launch of Canada's first national music video channel in 1984. [10] [11] [4] This initiative marked CHUM's initial major foray into specialty cable channels and set the stage for the company's later growth in niche programming. [6] His leadership style emphasized trusting and empowering his executive team to drive initiatives, contributing to operational stability during a period of industry consolidation and transition. [11] By the time of the 2007 sale, CHUM had grown to encompass 34 radio stations, 23 national specialty networks, and 12 local conventional television stations, with annual revenues exceeding C$620 million. [10]Post-CHUM ventures and Hollywood Suite
After the acquisition of CHUM Limited by CTVglobemedia in 2007, Jay Switzer stepped down from his position as president and CEO. [5] [6] In the years that followed, he remained active in the Canadian media sector through board memberships and new ventures, including joining the board of OUTtv in October 2008 and serving as chairman of GlassBox Television from 2009 to 2011. [6] He also joined the board of directors of Shaftesbury in August 2011, where he later became an investor and provided ongoing strategic guidance. [9] [6] In 2010, Switzer co-founded Hollywood Suite, an independent, privately owned multi-platform broadcaster focused on classic films. [1] The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved his applications for four new high-definition Category 2 specialty movie channels in July 2010. [6] These channels launched on November 23, 2011, under the Hollywood Suite banner as WarnerFilms, MGM Channel, Hollywood Storm, and Hollywood Festival, with Switzer serving as chairman of Hollywood Suite Inc. The service offered library content primarily from the 1970s through the 2000s, along with on-demand options through broadcast distributors. [5] [9] In 2014, Hollywood Suite expanded with the launch of the Hollywood Suite GO app, enabling direct-to-consumer access. [9] Switzer remained chairman and a guiding force at Hollywood Suite until his death in 2018, collaborating closely with partners including Andy Kaplan of Sony Pictures Television. [5]Contributions to Canadian media
Support for independent productions
Jay Switzer was widely regarded as a champion of independent Canadian feature film and television production throughout his career. [2] [12] He provided support to more than 200 independent Canadian projects, contributing significantly to the development and visibility of homegrown content. [13] [14] [15] This advocacy was particularly notable during his tenure at CHUM Limited, where his executive roles facilitated platforms and resources for independent creators. [16] His commitment helped foster a vibrant ecosystem for Canadian independent producers in film and television. [17]Advocacy for diversity and mentorship
Jay Switzer was widely recognized for his advocacy of diversity in Canadian media, particularly through his longstanding promotion of women and Indigenous creators long before such efforts gained broader industry attention. Colleagues recalled his early and consistent support for women, with Shaftesbury CEO Christina Jennings noting that he was promoting, supporting, and mentoring women in the industry 30 years ago, believing in their potential and investing time to assist those new to the business.[18] Hollywood Suite co-founder Catherine Tait described his unwavering commitment to women in an often indifferent industry, tirelessly promoting and encouraging many throughout their careers.[18] Paul Bronfman credited him as the first Canadian broadcaster to empower women in senior executive roles.[5] Switzer's support extended to Indigenous creators, including a 13-year commitment to filmmaker and visual artist Shirley Cheechoo, founder of the Weengushk Film Institute, reflecting his deeper history of engagement within Indigenous communities.[9] He also advanced diversity through his decade-long service on the board of OUTtv, where he actively connected individuals and fostered career growth in the LGBTQ-focused network.[5] As a mentor, Switzer earned a reputation for guiding emerging talent with confidence-building encouragement and challenging assignments that helped individuals succeed. David Kines, a former colleague, highlighted Switzer's innate belief in people's goodness and his role in inspiring many through such mentorship.[5] His dedication to nurturing up-and-coming filmmakers and artists contributed to his appointment to the Order of Canada, recognizing his leadership in broadcasting alongside his mentorship of emerging Canadian talent.[19]Awards and recognition
Jay Switzer received several awards and recognitions for his leadership and contributions to Canadian broadcasting and independent production. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada on December 8, 2017, and invested on December 11, 2017. The official citation states: "Jay Switzer is an exemplary leader in Canada’s broadcasting community. A man of principle and integrity, he has earned his reputation through his work in building and leading Canadian broadcasting entities, notably at the helm of CityTV Toronto, as well as at many national and local TV and radio channels across Canada under CHUM Limited. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to the advancement of the quality and viability of our country’s media, and has been a champion of independent Canadian feature film and television productions. Passionate about nurturing emerging talent, he is a beloved mentor within the industry." [20] Other recognitions include:- Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2002, for significant contributions to Canada. [1] [6]
- Human Relations Award from the Canadian Centre for Diversity in 2005. [6]
- Friend of Women in Film and Television (Toronto) Award in 1994. [6]