OTTAWA – The Canadian broadcast industry will honor eight distinguished Canadians who will be inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcaster’s Broadcast Hall of Fame at a special luncheon ceremony on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at the CAB Convention in Ottawa.
The Hall of Fame recognizes Canadians in private broadcasting or related industries who have achieved outstanding success in helping raise industry standards from a material or humanitarian standpoint.
The inductees who will be honoured at the luncheon are:
* Jaya Chandrasekar, executive vice president and vice president of programming, Asian Television Network International.
* John F. Eddy, (posthumously), former vice-president, Astral Media Radio, Atlantic.
* Robin Fillingham, former CFO, CTVglobemedia.
* Harold Greenberg, (posthumously), past chairman, Astral Communications.
* Ian Greenberg, president and CEO, Astral Média.
* John Majhor, (posthumously) former on-air personality, CHUM Radio and Aboriginal Voices Radio.
* Gary Russell, vice-president and general manager Crave-FM/CISL, Astral Media Radio.
* Peter Viner, advisor, Canwest.
“The CAB is proud to welcome these exceptional leaders and entrepreneurs into the Broadcast Hall of Fame,” said CAB president and CEO, Glenn O’Farrell, “They are an inspiration for the entire industry.”
The CAB will announce shortly the Hall of Fame inductees in the Music Star Category. The Music Star inductees will be recognized at the Gold Ribbon Awards Gala on Monday, November 3.
Below are the bios from the CAB’s press release for each of the HOF inductees:
Jaya Chandrasekar
Jaya Chandrasekar is a true broadcasting pioneer, having contributed to the flowering of ethnocultural programming in Canada.
With her husband Shan, Jaya Chandrasekar has been a leader in broadcasting first on City TV, then as one of the original producers at CFMT. Jaya now plays a central role in the Asian Television Network (ATN), which is currently made up of fourteen channels serving Canada’s South Asian community.
As the network’s Executive Vice President and Vice President of Programming, Jaya Chandrasekar is responsible for all of the programming content on these channels. This includes a great deal of original Canadian programming, much of which is produced within ATN’s state-of-the-art broadcast and production facilities. As Canada’s South Asian community has grown, ATN has grown as well, providing the community with news, public affairs, entertainment, and specialized sports programming. This wide selection in programming is the direct result of the leadership and hard work of Jaya Chandrasekar and the members of her team.
Over the years, Jaya has served as a mentor for a large number of broadcasters and broadcasting professionals, including many from the South Asian community, who got their start and learned their craft at ATN. Jaya Chandrasekar has also played a central role in numerous fundraising campaigns for various charities, and has received awards and honours for public service.
Throughout her distinguished career, Jaya Chandrasekar has set a new standard for excellence in broadcasting, ensuring the highest quality in programming for her audiences, and fulfilling a commitment to community service.
John F. Eddy
A broadcasting visionary, John Eddy always promoted the highest standards and ideals in Canadian private broadcasting.
John spent 18 years in the field of broadcasting before his untimely passing in January 2008. In the course of his career, he demonstrated far-sighted leadership on a number of occasions. For example, John was the guiding light in the creation and development of the “East Coast Music Show”. This program, which is dedicated to fostering and showcasing East Coast talent, has been running for 12 years.
John Eddy saw very early in his career where the industry was heading, and he was instrumental in creating one of eastern Canada’s first networks of stations. It is also worth noting that John demonstrated his leadership as an early adopter of innovative technology. For example, he was the first broadcaster in North America to use the “Genesys” operating system, which provides the most advanced tools and technology for networking, automation and other applications.
John also made an invaluable contribution through his active involvement with the Atlantic Association of Broadcasters. The Association benefited from his wise counsel and his experience as the industry successfully made its way through a rapidly changing broadcasting environment.
Through his dedicated efforts, John Eddy helped ensure that private radio in Atlantic Canada has the critical mass and the advanced tools needed to provide audiences with the programming they deserve. John Eddy’s leadership and vision were instrumental in raising private radio to a new level in the region.
Robin Fillingham
Over a remarkable 37-year career, Robin Fillingham has made a significant contribution to Canadian broadcasting. He has played a pivotal role in the growth and evolution of CTVglobemedia, from its humble beginnings as Baton Broadcasting, to the leading multimedia company it is today. Robin has also been an unrivalled industry champion, leading and/or contributing to industry teams that have worked to strengthen both the industry and the Canadian broadcasting system.
Over the years he has held various senior Finance positions, including Corporate Secretary; Senior Vice President, Administration; and Chief Financial Officer.
Robin’s peers in the broadcasting industry have praised him as an outstanding leader and manager. People have spoken of his “calming influence” and his demonstration of “grace under pressure” while tackling the most challenging files.
In addition to the demands of his professional career, Robin Fillingham has taken the time to share his expertise and experience for the benefit of the industry. He has served as the Chair of the CAB Task Force Review of the CAB Membership Fee Structure; as a Member of the Canadian Broadcasters Rights Agency; as Vice-Chair of the CAB Television Board; and as Board Member of the Banff Television Foundation, among many others.
Robin Fillingham is the personification of the highest standards and ideals in broadcasting. As a leader in the Canadian private broadcasting industry, he has used innovative thinking and approaches to successfully address key corporate and industry challenges. Robin is highly respected and admired by peers, colleagues and staff.
Harold Greenberg
In 1961, Harold Greenberg and his brothers founded Angreen Photo, a photo development business that would one day grow into the leading broadcasting firm Astral Media. In doing so, Harold embarked upon a very successful career that also contributed a great deal to the strength and development of private broadcasting in Canada.
From photo development, Harold Greenberg first led the company to expand into film production, before going into distribution and videocassette duplication. Then, in 1982, Astral entered the world of broadcasting, when the firm bought First Choice and Premier Choix. In the following years, Astral would continue to strengthen its position in television, launching such specialty services as Family Channel, Canal Famille (now VRAK.TV), and Canal D.
Harold Greenberg also made important contributions to the growth and development of the Canadian production industry in Canada. For example, in 1986, under his guidance, Astral launched the FUND (Foundation to Underwrite New Drama for pay-television). To date the Fund, renamed the Harold Greenberg Fund in his honour, has collectively invested more than $58 million to support the production of Canadian programming.
His work was recognized with numerous awards and honours. Harold Greenberg was an Officer of the Order of Canada. He also received France’s Légion d’honneur, the Ordre National du Québec, the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities Award, an International Achievement Award from the Montreal World Film Festival, and many others.
Harold Greenberg once said of himself: “I’m a businessman, an entrepreneur. I sell things. I invest.” While that statement is certainly true, it does not begin to capture the enormous contribution that he made to Canadian broadcasting and to our shared culture. When he passed away in 1996, it is understandable that Canadian political and business leaders, as well as national and local media, would pay tribute to Harold as both an industry pioneer and a champion.
Ian Greenberg
Ian Greenberg is respected by his peers as an innovative visionary who has helped transform the Canadian broadcasting system to make it what it is today: a vibrant industry and a truly unique engine for the expression and promotion of Canadian culture.
Born in Montréal in 1942, he is a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Ian Greenberg is one of four brothers who founded Astral Media almost 45 years ago. Since being appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in 1996, it has evolved under his direction into a pure-play media company; growing through a combination of financial discipline, thoughtful planning and rigorous operational practices.
Today, Astral Media is Canada’s largest operator of English and French specialty and pay television services, with 22 television services in its portfolio; the country’s largest radio broadcaster with 83 stations in eight provinces, as well as a leading and innovative outdoor advertising company with more than 7,500 faces in Québec and Ontario. The company also owns and operates over 100 websites, which attract nearly 4.9 million unique visitors each month. Astral Media employs over 2,800 people at its facilities in Montréal, Toronto, and a number of cities throughout Canada.
Over the years, Ian Greenberg has committed himself to supporting many causes through fundraising initiatives or by offering unique visibility to non-profit and charitable organizations across the country. Institutions and initiatives that have benefited from his support include the MS Society of Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, United Way, Centraide and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
Thanks to his drive and leadership, Ian Greenberg has helped make Astral Media into one of the country’s most innovative media companies, with a vision to deliver all Canadians, choice of targeted content, on the platform of their choice, when they want it.
John Majhor
John Majhor certainly earned a place in Canadian broadcasting history as our country’s first “live” Video Jockey, but he also did so much more.
John, who passed away last year at the age of 53, got his start with 1050 CHUM in 1975. In 1978, he joined CHUM’s “9 O’clock Rock”, where he took over as the primary host the next year. John stayed with that show until 1984, while continuing his daily DJ shifts.
That year he made a smooth transition from radio to television when he became Canada’s first “live” veejay on the groundbreaking show “Toronto Rocks”. John’s knowledge of the latest hits, combined with his wit, charm and engaging personality, made the show an instant hit, and turned John into an even bigger star. In following years, John Majhor would climb new summits, becoming the host of CHUM’s coveted morning show, hosting CITY-TV’s “Lunch Television”, and working extensively in the US.
In addition to his talent as a radio and television broadcaster, John Majhor was an engineering visionary. He was the co-inventor of a US patent for internet-based independent programming of radio stations customized to the needs of their community. John was also one of the early proponents of internet radio.
John Majhor was a unique and natural talent who graced Toronto throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s. His passion for entertaining and engaging his radio and television audiences was palpable. Not only was he respected and appreciated by listeners, viewers and fellow broadcasters, John also had the respect of all those he met and interviewed, becoming lifelong friends with many of those whose paths he crossed.
John’s career provides us with an inspiring model. He was a consummate professional, an innovative programmer, and a person who was passionately committed to his community and his fellow citizens.
Gary Russell
In a career spanning more than four decades, Gary Russell established himself as a trailblazing radio programmer and an innovative and exceptional manager and leader.
Starting in the 1960s, Gary worked at a succession of stations, taking on increasingly more important roles. He was often sent in to turn underperforming stations around, a task which he accomplished with impressive regularity. In just two years, he took Winnipeg’s legendary CKY from last place to second and in the 80s took Vancouver’s LG73 to the top. While managing Z95.3 and CISL in Vancouver, Gary Russell helped build a mass audience for Z that made it Vancouver’s most profitable station for a number of years.
Gary introduced a number of ground-breaking concepts that have become standard practice in the industry. On the promotional side, he pioneered the use of the “Window Sticker Promotion” in mid-70s. He also co-created the first ever “Remarkable Mouth” TV commercial for CKY which was syndicated throughout North America, and is still being used today.
Of greater importance was Gary Russell’s focus on research. He introduced comprehensive research programs in major markets during the 80s as National Program Director for Moffat Communications. These included ongoing tracking and perceptual studies, music call out and auditorium testing. While research is now standard, at the time this represented a major change in the thinking of Canadian Program Managers.
Gary also played a leading role in taking Music BC from near collapse to today’s vibrant umbrella organization for British Columbia’s emerging musicians.
Gary Russell has been recognized by his peers as an innovative programmer and Manager who transformed stations and made them winners, time and time again. He has made an important contribution to the vitality of Canadian private radio, and given considerable support and exposure to Canadian music artists.
Peter Viner
Peter Viner has had a distinguished broadcasting career on two continents, demonstrating exceptional management and leadership skills in both Canada and Australia, over a period of close to four decades.
He played a central role in the early success of Global Television Network, and was instrumental in Global’s decision to make a significant commitment to Global News, both locally and nationally. Today, Global is a formidable competitor in news and has won many local, national and international awards. Viewers across the country have benefited greatly from this commitment.
As the President and CEO of Network Ten in Australia, Peter led a turnaround that took a failing operation and put it back on track, raising it to new heights. Today, Ten continues to make a substantial contribution to Canwest’s overall profit.
Over the years, Peter has also served private broadcasting through his involvement in various industry bodies. He has been a Director with both the Television Bureau of Canada and the Radio Bureau of Canada; a Radio Executive Member and a Television Executive Member of the Bureau of Broadcast Measurement; Television Director, CAB; Deputy Chairman/Director, Federation of Australian Commercial TV Stations; and more.
Throughout his career, Peter Viner has received several awards and honours. These include Marketing Man of the Year, presented by the American Marketing Association; Australian Media Executive of the Year; and the CAB Gold Ribbon Award for Broadcast Excellence, presented in 2006.
For all these reasons, it is fitting that Peter Viner is being inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame. His service to our industry, both here and abroad, has greatly strengthened broadcasting and benefited the audiences of these far-flung networks.
