# Jay Switzer

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{{Short description|Canadian television executive (1956–2018)}}
{{for|the American chemist|Jay Switzer (chemist)}}
'''Jay Switzer''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CM}} (July 11, 1956 – January 29, 2018) was a [Canadian](/source/Canadians) television executive, most noted as a longtime senior executive of [CHUM Limited](/source/CHUM_Limited).<ref name=thr>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jay-switzer-dead-veteran-canadian-tv-programmer-was-61-1071115 "Veteran Canadian TV Programmer Jay Switzer Dies at 61"]. ''[The Hollywood Reporter](/source/The_Hollywood_Reporter)'', January 29, 2018.</ref>

Born in [Calgary](/source/Calgary), [Alberta](/source/Alberta) and raised in [Lethbridge](/source/Lethbridge), he was the son of broadcast executives Israel Switzer and Phyllis Switzer.<ref name=thr/> He had his first job in broadcasting as a weekend switchboard operator for [Citytv](/source/CITY-DT), and then worked as a cable installer for [Maclean-Hunter](/source/Maclean-Hunter), a director of [television pilot](/source/television_pilot)s and a research analyst for the ''[Financial Post](/source/Financial_Post)''. He attained an MBA from the [University of Western Ontario](/source/University_of_Western_Ontario)'s [Ivey Business School](/source/Ivey_Business_School),<ref name=cab>[http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/personalities/switzer-jay "Jay Switzer (1956-)"]. [Canadian Communications Foundation](/source/Canadian_Communications_Foundation), 2004.</ref> before rejoining Citytv as director of programming in 1983.<ref name=thr/> In that role, he also oversaw the launch and development of [MuchMusic](/source/MuchMusic), the first of CHUM's forays into ownership and operation of cable channels.<ref name=cab/>

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.<ref>"CHUM set to move in new direction?: New CEO Switzer faces numerous major challenges". ''[National Post](/source/National_Post)'', December 2, 2002.</ref> He stepped down in 2007 after CHUM was acquired by [CTVglobemedia](/source/CTVglobemedia).<ref>"CHUM CEO Switzer to step down". ''[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)'', June 22, 2007.</ref> He then joined the board of directors of [OutTV](/source/OutTV_(Canada)),<ref>"THE BIZ: DEALS AND MOVES IN CANADIAN ARTS". ''[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)'', October 23, 2008.</ref> and became one of the founding investors in [Glassbox Television](/source/Glassbox_Television).<ref>"GlassBOX Television Inc. Announces $5 million Series A Financing". ''[Canada NewsWire](/source/Canada_NewsWire)'', June 9, 2008.</ref> In 2011, he was one of the founding partners in the new pay TV film service [Hollywood Suite](/source/Hollywood_Suite),<ref>"Hollywood Suite to offer HD films on TV 'substantially cheaper' than Netflix: Hollywood Suite to offer HD movies on TV". [Canadian Press](/source/Canadian_Press), August 23, 2011.</ref> and joined the board of directors of [Shaftesbury Films](/source/Shaftesbury_Films).<ref>"Shaftesbury Appoints Industry Veteran Jay Switzer to its Board of Directors". ''[Canada NewsWire](/source/Canada_NewsWire)'', August 29, 2011.</ref>

He was married to actress [Ellen Dubin](/source/Ellen_Dubin).<ref name=thr/>

He died in Toronto of [brain cancer](/source/brain_cancer).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/8097181/jay-switzer-obit|title=Canadian Media Veteran Jay Switzer Dies at 61|publisher=[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))|date=2017-01-30|accessdate=2017-01-29}}</ref>

==Honours==
He was inducted into the [Canadian Association of Broadcasters](/source/Canadian_Association_of_Broadcasters) Hall of Fame in 2004.<ref name=cab/>

He was named to the [Order of Canada](/source/Order_of_Canada) in December 2017.<ref>[http://playbackonline.ca/2017/12/12/jay-switzer-named-to-order-of-canada/ "Jay Switzer named to Order of Canada"]. ''[Playback](/source/Playback_(magazine))'', December 12, 2017.</ref> In January 2018, just before his death, the [Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television](/source/Academy_of_Canadian_Cinema_and_Television) named him as a recipient of its Board of Directors Tribute award, alongside [Margaret Atwood](/source/Margaret_Atwood), to honour his work in and commitments to the Canadian broadcasting industry.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/csa-special-awards-1.4370732 "Canadian Screen Awards: Peter Mansbridge, Karyn Pugliese, Margaret Atwood to be honoured"]. [CBC News](/source/CBC_News), October 30, 2017.</ref>

==References==
{{Archival records|title=Jay Switzer fonds}} 
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Switzer, Jay}}
Category:1956 births
Category:2018 deaths
Category:Businesspeople from Calgary
Category:Canadian Jews
Category:Canadian television executives
Category:Canadian Screen Award winners
Category:Citytv people
Category:Deaths from brain cancer in Ontario
Category:Members of the Order of Canada
Category:University of Western Ontario alumni

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jay Switzer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Switzer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Switzer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.