LASEC Board Members & Supporters,
PARTNER PERSPECTIVE
Each week, you will hear from one of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission’s partners and business leaders on how their work is positively impacting the Los Angeles region and its residents. This week’s perspective is from Joe Cohen, Chairman and CEO of West Ridge Associates and Senior Consultant, The Switch.
What is your role at your company?
I am senior consultant concentrating on sports for The Switch, a major international video production company. I am also honored to be a member of the board of directors of Madison Square Garden Sports (Knicks and Rangers) and Madison Square Garden Network, where my career began more than 50 years ago.
How has your business/industry changed over the past year?
Though it’s not the way we would have chosen for it to happen, the pandemic intensified demand for video services worldwide and resulted in the strongest year in our 30-year history at The Switch. The pandemic challenged us with a variety of changes in how the traditional broadcast workflows are structured. In particular, we have seen an exponential move towards IP-based (internet protocol) production and the introduction of the cloud-based components, limiting the need for talent and staff to travel. We expanded our facilities to create remote/virtual platforms for productions to work remotely, while having access to our professional production studio climate in Burbank and Culver City.
Which major event are you most excited to see come to LA (and how do you see it benefiting the community for decades to come)?
My wife, Rita, and I fell in love with Los Angeles when we attended the 1984 Olympic Summer Games. I’m very excited that the Olympics are coming back in 2028 and I’m hopeful I can play some small part in the event. The city continues to reap the rewards of the ’84 Games and I’m certain that will be true of the legacy of the ’28 Games. I am also excited about the Super Bowl returning to L.A. after such a lengthy absence. And Wrestlemania is coming in 2023 – I have a long association with WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon — and I know that event will have a substantial impact on L.A.
What is your favorite past moment in Los Angeles sports history?
Kirk Gibson’s electrifying home run in the 1988 World Series stands out in part because my company, Z Channel, was the rights-holder for Dodgers telecasts. The highlight of my ownership of the Kings came on March 23, 1994, when Wayne Gretzky scored his record 802nd career goal. And witnessing Carl Lewis’ gold medal-winning performances at the ’84 Olympics was exhilarating.