Prominent Canadian broadcast pioneer and former president of CHUM Limited, Jay Switzer has died. He passed away in Toronto Monday with his family at his side after a brief battle with brain cancer. He was 61. Kevin Beggs, chairman of Lionsgate Television Group, who got to know Switzer in the early days of the company in the late 90s, remembers Switzer as a “larger-than-life figure.” Switzer began his broadcast career working a switchboard for Toronto’s City TV in 1972. His mother Phyllis was granted the station license and founded the broadcaster. By 1984, Mr. Switzer would be credited with helping to launch an array of successful CHUM specialty channels, including MuchMusic, Bravo, Space and Pulse 24, later CP24. In 2002, he became president and CEO of Chum Limited. He stepped down from that role after CHUM was acquired by then CTVglobemedia in 2007.
HOLLYWOOD SUITE
Three years later, Switzer would help launch Hollywood Suite, a Toronto-based company that manages four channels that broadcast classic movies. In a statement, fellow Hollywood Suite co-founder Jeff Sackman said Switzer had made a lasting impact on the broadcast industry. “Jay defined friendship, loyalty, fairness, selflessness, and basic human decency. He will be proud to know that these traits have been passed on to so many others who will pay it forward, ensuring that Jay’s legacy is intact and the world will be a better place
