Hallmark Announces Unprecedented Agreements to Air Hallmark Hall of Fame on ABC Television Network and Hallmark Channel

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hallmark announced today a multi-year deal, beginning with the 2011-2012 TV season, to premiere Hallmark Hall of Fame movies exclusively on the ABC Television Network with encore broadcasts a week later on Hallmark Channel.

"We're delighted our movies will premiere exclusively on ABC starting with our 61st television season," said Brad Moore, president – Hallmark Hall of Fame. "Since our very first talks with ABC last year we've looked forward to this announcement. Our agreement to follow ABC premieres with encores on Hallmark Channel is an exciting, unprecedented use of broadcast and cable."

"A week after the Hallmark Hall of Fame network premiere on ABC, Hallmark Channel will air four encore broadcasts over a week-long period," said Bill Abbott, president, Crown Media Networks. "This will bring even more exceptional, high-profile programming to our audience, and increase the viewership and impact of the Hallmark Hall of Fame series. We're delighted to be a partner."

The first movie to premiere on ABC will be Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith, based on Albom's best-selling book. Albom also wrote the screenplay. The movie, now being filmed in Michigan by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, is executive produced by Brent Shields and directed by Jon Avnet. Laurence Fishburne, Bradley Whitford, and Martin Landau star. The movie will air before Christmas. ABC and Hallmark Channel will cross-promote this and subsequent telecasts.

During its 60-year history, the Hallmark Hall of Fame has been broadcast on ABC, NBC, and most recently CBS. Previous presentations on ABC include Emmy award winning movies My Name is Bill W, starring James Woods and James Garner, and The Shell Seekers, starring Angela Lansbury. Other previous Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations on ABC included A Place for Annie, staring Sissy Spacek, and Redwood Curtain, starring John Lithgow.

About Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame is television's most honored series, with a record 79 Emmy awards and numerous other honors. The series has just completed its 60th Anniversary season. Its presentations have included many of the highest rated movies on television during that time plus the single most honored program in television history (Promise, 1986). Representing "the best of television" to many viewers and critics, the series has brought a diverse mix of talented writers, directors, producers, and actors to the small screen – including a fourth of all actors who have ever won Academy Awards.

About ABC Entertainment

Formed in January 2009, ABC Entertainment develops and produces compelling programming for broadcast on ABC, as well as across television and digital platforms. The successful partnership between ABC Studios and ABC Entertainment has delivered some of the most successful, talked-about and revolutionary series on television, including "Desperate Housewives," "Lost," "Grey's Anatomy," and "Castle."

About Hallmark Channel

Hallmark Channel, one of the Crown Media Networks, is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment to a national audience of over 87 million subscribers. Hallmark Channel is a leader in family programming, with an ambitious slate of original TV movies, popular series, and lifestyle and general entertainment content. It is the home of "The Martha Stewart Show," which anchors the channel's daytime programming block. Hallmark Channel's sibling network, Hallmark Movie Channel in over 42 million homes, focuses on family-friendly movies – with a mix of classic theatrical films, presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library, original Hallmark Channel movies, and special events.

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