1983: Having worked the switchboard at City while in high school, the MBA now becomes a junior City program manager. One of his first major tasks at CHUM is to write the license application for MuchMusic, which proves successful

1988: As City program manager, on Oct. 12, he ‘actually cried’ when the TV premiere of the feature film Dirty Dancing, an acquisition and scheduling move Switzer masterminded, rings in a 32 rating and a nearly 70 share, topping CTV’s smash hit The Cosby Show

1995: Switzer is promoted to CHUM VP programming

2002: CHUM founder Allan Waters steps down as head of CHUM and Switzer is appointed president and CEO

2003: Under Switzer’s leadership, Citytv Toronto offers Canada’s first digital over-the-air signal

MuchMore Retro, a new digital TV channel dedicated to the music videos of the ’80s and ’90s, launches

2004: CHUM purchases Craig Media, bringing it the A-Channel conventional TV stations in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg; CKX, a CBC affiliate station in Brandon, MB; the newly launched Toronto 1 station in Toronto; and the MTV, MTV2 and TV Land digis. It then sells Toronto 1 to Quebecor Media

Going the Distance, CHUM’s first wholly owned and produced theatrical feature film, is released, and takes in more than $1 million at the domestic box office

2005: Allan Waters steps down from the board of directors and dies in December. Despite industry speculation, the Waters family says that this will not lead to the sale of CHUM

2006: CTVglobemedia’s deal for CHUM is announced. Both parties ask Switzer to stay on through the ownership transfer

2007: The CRTC says it will only okay CHUM’s sale if CTVgm divests itself of the five City stations. Rogers Communications makes a bid to purchase the stations, and still awaits regulator approval.

In July, CTVgm’s purchase of the rest of CHUM is complete and Switzer leaves the company where he has worked for nearly 25 years