Hallmark Hall of Fame moves premieres to Hallmark Channel

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Hallmark Cards today announced that new movies in its acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame series will debut in 2014-15 on Hallmark Channel.

The move comes after three years of a unique arrangement under which the premieres of new Hallmark Hall of Fame movies have aired on ABC and encore presentations have aired on Hallmark Channel the following week.  Hallmark Channel will now air both the premiere presentations and multiple encores of each production. 

"Over the past three years the Hallmark Hall of Fame has had higher total viewership via ABC and Hallmark Channel than in any three-year period in the past decade," said Brad Moore, president of Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions.  "We've enjoyed the success and our working relationships with both ABC and Hallmark Channel."

"This move is an important next step for us," Moore added.  "Hallmark Channel's strong brand, distinctive positioning, and highly-effective audience delivery present exciting opportunities for us.  Hallmark Channel is also where more and more viewers expect to find our programs."

"Hallmark Hall of Fame is the longest running and most beloved drama franchise in television history.  We're thrilled that Hallmark Channel will become the new home for these movies' debuts," said Bill Abbott, President and CEO, Crown Media Family Networks.  "Adding these premieres to the network's lineup brings great value to our viewers and further reinforces Crown Media's position as the leader in high-quality original family entertainment."

The first movie in the new arrangement will be ONE CHRISTMAS EVE.  Anne Heche, appearing in her third Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, will star as a recently-divorced mom who wants her two kids' first Christmas "without dad" to be perfect.  An entertaining but unfortunate series of Christmas Eve mishaps ensures that won't happen – unless perfect means the family has its most memorable and heartwarming Christmas ever.

ABOUT THE HALLMARK HALL OF FAME

For more than 60 years, the Hallmark Hall of Fame has presented programs that celebrate the human spirit and affirm the value of relationships.  Its productions seek to entertain, enlighten, challenge, and inspire.  Television's most honored series, Hallmark Hall of Fame has received a record 81 Emmys plus numerous Golden Globe Awards, Peabody Awards, Christopher Awards, and Humanitas Prizes.  Hallmark Hall of Fame also has the distinction of receiving the only Emmy presented to a sponsor and has been honored by the Television Academy with the prestigious Governors' Award in recognition of the series' unparalleled contribution to the television medium.

ABOUT HALLMARK CHANNEL

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality family entertainment available to a national audience of 85 million subscribers. Hallmark Channel is the nation's leading destination for quality family programming featuring an ambitious slate of original content, including movies, scripted series, annual specials, and a daily 2-hour lifestyle show, Home & Family. Hallmark Channel is also home to the annual holiday franchise, Countdown to Christmas, featuring a lineup of 24/7 holiday programming, including The 12 New Movies of Christmas.

SOURCE Hallmark Cards