Arthur Smith

Before graduating from college, Smith had already amassed an eclectic resume in the entertainment business. He acted in CBC sitcoms, commercials, two feature films, worked as a radio announcer, and produced segments for CBC Radio. Upon graduation from Ryerson University, Arthur, at the age of 22, began work as a CBC Network Sports producer and was immediately assigned to major sporting events around the world, including the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and Hockey Night in Canada. In 1988, after being responsible for the Grey CUP, the 1988 Calgary Olympics, and the 1988 Seoul Olympics (for which he earned two Gemini awards), CBC appointed Smith Head of CBC Sports at the age of 28. While running CBC Sports, word of his innovative work and reorganization of the network division spread internationally, and in 1990, he accepted an offer from Dick Clark to join Clark's company, Dick Clark Productions, in Los Angeles. As Senior Vice President of Dick Clark Productions, Smith quickly created a wide range of new entertainment programming. After half a decade at the production company, Smith accepted a position at MCA Universal, becoming the first ever Senior VP of the television group. Within months, Smith garnered commitments for programs at all the major networks. His stay at Universal was a brief one, however - FOX, newcomer to the sports business, was eyeing a major expansion and needed a creative and entrepreneurial executive to spearhead the initiative. Beginning in 1996 as Executive VP of FOX Sports Net, Smith was not only head of all programming, production and news, but led the expansion of the Fox Sports brand while serving as Executive Producer of all Fox Sports Net national programming. Smith launched and oversaw programming on 22 sports networks which encompassed tens of thousands of hours of events and original programming each year. In 2000, Smith fulfilled his dream of starting his own company, A. Smith and Co. Productions, and quickly grew the business in to one of the most successful and important suppliers of television programming to US broadcast and cable networks. Over the course of its existence, A. Smith & Co. has produced thousands of hours of programming and countless series on more than 40 networks, including hit shows like the Emmy and People's Choice award nominated Hell Kitchen (FOX), Kitchen Nightmares (FOX), American Ninja Warrior (NBC/G4), Trading Spaces (TLC), Pros vs. Joes (SPIKE), The Swan (FOX), UFC Countdown (Spike, Fuel), Paradise Hotel (FOX), Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura (truTV), Skating with Celebrities (FOX), Surprise with Jenny McCarthy (NBC), Unsung (tvOne) and Full Throttle Saloon (truTV), to name a few. He is one of the most influential and key figures in television today and has been a consultant to major media companies and individuals like Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. When he's not in production, Smith can frequently be seen on the lecture circuit and also finds time to serve as the narrator on a number of high profile television series. In addition to being the CEO and Executive Producer at A. Smith & Co., he serves as Chairman of the Board of Tinopolis North America.