Switchover Media

Switchover Media was an Italian television broadcaster and channel operator active primarily between 2009 and 2013. Its corporate origins lay in Fox Kids Italy S.r.l., established in 2000 as the Italian subsidiary of Fox Kids Europe to manage the local Fox Kids television feed. Following the international transition from Fox Kids to Jetix, the Italian operation became Jetix Italia S.r.l. and broadened its portfolio beyond children's programming. It operated Jetix, a youth-oriented channel, and launched GXT in 2005 as a service aimed at teenagers and young adults. The business also developed the K2 brand, initially associated with a syndicated programming block and later established as a standalone free-to-air channel. The company's ownership structure changed as The Walt Disney Company increased its control of Jetix Europe. In 2009, Jetix Italia's management completed a buyout from Jetix Europe and created Switchover Media. The new company acquired the K2 and GXT networks and related activities from Disney while continuing to operate the Italian Jetix service during its transition to Disney XD. This made Switchover an independent Italian channel group rather than simply a local division of an international children's television company. Switchover's early portfolio remained strongly focused on youth audiences. K2 became a standalone free-to-air network in July 2009, while Frisbee launched in June 2010 as another children's and family-oriented service distributed through Sky Italia and Italian digital terrestrial television. GXT continued to target a male teenage and young-adult audience and also had a one-hour time-shift service. These channels reflected the expansion of multichannel television in Italy, particularly the growth of digital terrestrial broadcasting and the segmentation of programming by age and interest. In 2012, Switchover diversified beyond children's and youth television. Giallo launched on 14 May 2012 as a free-to-air channel centered on crime drama, thrillers, mystery and investigation programming from Italy, the United States and other European markets. Later that year, Switchover launched Focus in partnership with Gruner+Jahr/Mondadori. Based on the Focus popular-science magazine brand, the channel concentrated on factual and science-oriented entertainment and was positioned toward a male audience. The moves gave Switchover a broader portfolio spanning children's entertainment, youth programming, scripted crime and factual content. The company's independent period ended in January 2013, when Discovery Communications acquired Switchover Media. Its channel assets were absorbed into Discovery's Italian operations, while some services continued under Discovery ownership. GXT and GXT +1 ultimately ceased broadcasting on 31 December 2014. Switchover Media is therefore best understood as a defunct Italian broadcaster whose principal importance was the creation and operation of several thematic television channels during the transition from analogue and pay television toward digital terrestrial and highly segmented multichannel broadcasting.

Switchover Media's history began with the creation of Fox Kids Italy S.r.l. in 2000. The company was formed as a local subsidiary of Fox Kids Europe N.V. to manage the Italian Fox Kids feed and related programming activity. In 2001, a syndicated Fox Kids analogue block began broadcasting for several hours per day. A one-hour time-shifted Fox Kids service was subsequently introduced, making Italy one of only two markets in which such a Fox Kids time-shift service operated. The international reorganization of the Fox Kids business reshaped the Italian company. In 2004, Fox Kids Europe, Fox Kids Latin America and ABC Family Worldwide aligned their operations under the Jetix brand. Fox Kids Italy consequently became Jetix Italia S.r.l. The Italian programming block was renamed K-2 on 1 October 2004, and the main channel adopted the Jetix identity in March 2005. The company expanded its audience reach in May 2005 with GXT, a channel aimed at teenagers and young adults. A GXT one-hour time-shift service launched on Sky Italia on 1 June 2008. Ownership changed again as Disney consolidated its position in Jetix Europe. On 8 December 2008, Disney agreed to increase its ownership of Jetix Europe's parent company to 96 percent and later acquired the remaining shares, resulting in the delisting of Jetix Europe from Euronext. Against this background, the management of Jetix Italy pursued an independent transaction. On 15 July 2009, Jetix Italy announced that its management had bought the Italian operation out of Jetix Europe under the new name Switchover Media. The transaction transferred the K2 and GXT networks and blocks to Switchover, while Switchover continued to operate Jetix Italy for Disney until the service was renamed Disney XD Italy. Switchover's first phase as an independent company focused on establishing a diversified Italian youth-channel portfolio. On 1 July 2009, K-2 was renamed K2 and became a standalone free-to-air network. In June 2010, Switchover launched Frisbee, another channel aimed at children and families and distributed via Sky Italia and digital terrestrial television. Alongside these free-to-air services, GXT continued to serve a male teenage and young-adult audience, with GXT +1 providing a delayed version of the schedule. In 2012, the company moved beyond its original youth-market specialization. Giallo launched on 14 May with a schedule built around crime drama, thrillers, mystery and investigation programming from the United States and Europe. During the summer, Switchover launched Focus under an agreement with Gruner+Jahr/Mondadori. The channel drew on the subject matter and brand positioning of the Focus popular-science magazine and concentrated on factual programming, popular science and male-skewed entertainment. These launches reflected Switchover's strategy of using digital terrestrial television to build thematic free-to-air channels for clearly defined audiences. Discovery Communications acquired Switchover Media in January 2013. The acquisition ended Switchover's period as an independent broadcaster and brought its channels and operating capabilities into Discovery's Italian portfolio. The former company's services did not all have the same long-term trajectory: GXT and GXT +1 ceased broadcasting on 31 December 2014, while other brands associated with the portfolio continued under new ownership or corporate arrangements. Switchover Media is consequently a historical broadcaster rather than a current standalone company.

1. 2014GXT services close

   GXT and GXT +1 cease broadcasting at the end of the year.

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2. 2013Discovery Communications acquires the company

   Switchover Media is acquired and incorporated into Discovery Communications' Italian operations.

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3. 2012Giallo launches

   Giallo begins broadcasting as a free-to-air investigation and crime-entertainment channel.

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4. 2012Focus launches

   Focus launches through an agreement with Gruner+Jahr/Mondadori, with factual and popular-science programming.

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5. 2010Frisbee launches

   Switchover launches Frisbee for children's and family audiences.

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6. 2009Switchover Media is formed

   Jetix Italy management completes a buyout and establishes Switchover Media.

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7. 2009K2 becomes a standalone network

   K-2 is renamed K2 and begins operating as a standalone free-to-air channel.

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8. 2008GXT +1 launches

   A one-hour time-shift version of GXT launches on Sky Italia.

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9. 2005GXT launches

   GXT launches as a channel focused on teenagers and young adults.

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10. 2004Jetix Italia identity replaces Fox Kids Italy

    The Italian business is renamed Jetix Italia as part of the international Fox Kids-to-Jetix reorganization.

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11. 2001Fox Kids analogue programming block launches

    A syndicated Fox Kids block begins airing in Italy for several hours a day.

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12. 2000Fox Kids Italy is established

    Fox Kids Italy S.r.l. is founded as a subsidiary of Fox Kids Europe to manage the Italian Fox Kids operation.

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A multi-channel Italian broadcaster focused initially on children, teenagers and young adults, later extending into free-to-air crime entertainment and factual programming.

• K2Children's television channel2009

  K2 developed from the Italian Fox Kids/Jetix programming activity and became a standalone free-to-air network in July 2009. It served children with general entertainment and youth-oriented programming, taking advantage of Italy's expanding digital terrestrial television environment.

• GXTTeen and young-adult television channel2005

  GXT launched in 2005 as a channel directed at teenagers and young adults, with a male-leaning audience focus. Its offer was complemented by GXT +1, a one-hour time-shift service distributed through Sky Italia. Both services were later discontinued.

• FrisbeeChildren's television channel2010

  Frisbee was introduced in June 2010 as a children's and family-oriented channel. It was distributed through Sky Italia and Italian digital terrestrial television and formed part of Switchover's effort to expand its free-to-air youth portfolio.

• GialloCrime and mystery television channel2012

  Giallo launched on 14 May 2012 as a free-to-air channel specializing in crime drama, thrillers, mystery stories and investigation programming sourced from the United States, Europe and other markets. Its launch represented Switchover's move into adult thematic television.

• FocusFactual and popular-science television channel2012

  Focus launched in 2012 through an agreement with Gruner+Jahr/Mondadori and was based on the subject area of the Focus popular-science magazine. The channel targeted a male-skewed audience with factual, documentary and popular-science entertainment.

• Jetix ItalyChildren's television channel

  Before the management buyout, Jetix Italy was the Italian youth television operation of Jetix Europe. Switchover continued to operate the service for Disney during the transition to the Disney XD identity in September 2009.

• 2013Sale to Discovery CommunicationsM&A

  Switchover had assembled a group of Italian thematic television channels spanning children, youth, crime and factual entertainment.

  What changed. Discovery Communications acquired Switchover Media in January.

  Aftermath. The independent Switchover corporate identity ended as the business and its channels were integrated into Discovery's Italian operations.

  Source
• 2012Expansion into adult thematic televisionStrategy

  After building a youth-oriented portfolio, Switchover sought to reach additional audiences through specialized adult programming.

  What changed. The company launched Giallo for crime and investigation content and Focus for factual and popular-science programming.

  Aftermath. The portfolio expanded beyond children's and youth television shortly before Discovery Communications acquired the company.

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• 2009Management buyout from Jetix EuropeM&A

  Disney's increasing control of Jetix Europe created the conditions for the Italian management team to separate the local channel operation from Jetix Europe.

  What changed. Management acquired the Italian operation, formed Switchover Media, and acquired the K2 and GXT networks and related blocks while continuing to operate Jetix Italy for Disney during its rebranding.

  Aftermath. Switchover became an independent Italian broadcaster with a portfolio centered on youth channels and later expanded into adult factual and crime programming.

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• 2009Conversion of K2 into a free-to-air networkStrategy

  The Italian television market was developing additional digital terrestrial capacity and thematic free-to-air services.

  What changed. Switchover changed K-2 into K2 and launched it as a standalone free-to-air channel on 1 July.

  Aftermath. K2 became one of the principal children's brands in Switchover's channel portfolio and continued under subsequent ownership.

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• 2014GXT and GXT +1 cease broadcasting

  The GXT channel and its one-hour time-shift service ended transmission on 31 December after the business had been acquired by Discovery.

  Other
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• 2013Discovery Communications acquires Switchover Media

  Discovery Communications acquired Switchover Media in January, bringing its Italian thematic television portfolio into Discovery's broader operations.

  M&A
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• 2012Giallo launches as an investigation-focused channel

  Switchover launched Giallo on 14 May as a free-to-air channel built around crime drama, thrillers, mystery and investigation programming.

  Product launch
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• 2012Focus launches through a publishing partnership

  Switchover launched Focus in partnership with Gruner+Jahr/Mondadori, adapting the subject area of the Focus magazine brand into a factual and popular-science television service.

  Product launch
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• 2010Switchover launches Frisbee

  Switchover introduced Frisbee, a children's channel distributed through Sky Italia and Italian digital terrestrial television.

  Product launch
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• 2009Jetix Italy management buyout creates Switchover Media

  Jetix Italy's management announced a buyout from Jetix Europe and established Switchover Media. The transaction included the K2 and GXT networks and related activities, while the company continued operating Jetix Italy during its transition to Disney XD.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2009K2 becomes a standalone free-to-air channel

  The K2 brand moved from a syndicated programming-block format to a standalone free-to-air television network in Italy.

  Product launch
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1. Switchover Media
2. Frisbee (TV channel)
3. Giallo (TV channel)
4. Focus TV