TORONTO – Gord Cutler and Don Young have been named executive producers, features for the CTV-Rogers’ coverage of the 2010/2012 Olympic Games in Vancouver and London.
Reporting to Rick Chisholm, EVP broadcasting for the CTV/Rogers Olympic consortium, Cutler will handle planning and programming of the pre-Olympic and Olympic coverage, including live event, studio and taped production for both the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the London 2012 Olympic Summer Games on CTV and Rogers.
“I have had the opportunity to watch Gord’s development in sports television production from the very beginning. Over the years, he has developed into one of the top sports producers in Canada,” said Chisholm in a press release. “With his extensive background at TSN, Rogers Sportsnet, NHL Network and the NBC Olympics, Gord is a perfect fit for this role. I look forward to working side-by-side with him again.”
Cutler’s extensive Olympic background includes producer of NBC’s coverage of the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Athens 2004 Summer Olympics and Turin 2006 Winter Olympics. For his work on the Olympics, Cutler received two Emmy Awards (2002, 2004) and also won a third Emmy for producing NBC’s coverage of the Michigan vs. Michigan State outdoor hockey game in 2002.
Most recently, Cutler was executive producer of NHL Network where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the network, including production, programming, acquisitions and talent. Cutler began his career at TSN in 1986, producing the network’s NHL and international hockey broadcasts, CFL games and CIS events for 12 years. He also spent seven years at Rogers Sportsnet as senior producer, creating and producing the network’s first national NHL broadcasts and overseeing its Toronto Raptors telecasts.
Also reporting to Chisholm and effective today, Young will oversee all aspects of feature production, including the development of style, treatment, look and execution of all feature programming for pre-Olympic and Olympic coverage.
“Don is an experienced documentary producer who has made an impact on Canadian television through his strong storytelling,” said Chisholm in the same release. “He brings to the table a wealth of know-how and creativity. We are overjoyed to have someone of his impressive skill-set lead our features department.”
Throughout his 30-year career in the broadcasting industry, Young has worked for numerous production companies and television networks including CTV, TSN, The Discovery Channel, CBS, FOX, ESPN and PBS, with a strong focus on long-form documentary storytelling. His years of hands-on experience in various roles as executive producer, director, writer and reporter put him in good stead to lead the consortium’s extensive features unit.
Most recently, Young ran his own production company for 14 years, producing and financing 52 half-hour programs and 14 one-hour documentaries. His vast work experience has taken him around the world, bringing untold stories to millions of viewers. Young cites his role as production executive for the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation (2005-2008) as one of his most challenging and rewarding responsibilities. Young acts as Producer and mentor for the Inuktitut-language children’s show Takuginai, where he develops colourful features and works closely with the emerging generation of young Inuit producers in Iqualit, Arviat and Pangnirtung.
A multi-award winner, Young took home his first Gemini Award in 1990 as Best Director for the documentary The Agony of Bhopal and was a co-winner of a second Gemini Award in 1995 as Best Writer for The Mulroney Years. Young was also the recipient of the 2007 Yorkton Film Festival award as Best Director for CTV’s Music Rising documentary, during which time he worked closely with U2 guitarist The Edge. In 1984, Young was awarded Prix Anik Gold Medal for The Iditarod Trail.
Young currently is a faculty member of the University of Winnipeg, where he teaches the popular documentary financing class ‘Show Me The Money’.
