Hallmark Channel is the quintessential 24-hour television destination for family-friendly programming and a leader in the production of original movies. The network launched in 2001 and brings to audiences a brand with a 50-plus year legacy that resonates with consumers. Hallmark Channel has been one of the fastest-growing major ad-supported cable networks since its launch, and its strong ratings often rank the channel in the top 10 in Prime Time. Hallmark Channel is seen in 88 million homes across the United States and has developed a stellar reputation for keeping viewers engaged and entertained.
A staple to the network, Hallmark Channel Original Movies are characterized by strong storytelling through compelling themes and vibrant characters. Rounding out its schedule, Hallmark Channel also airs a mix of popular television series, including “The Golden Girls,” “I Love Lucy,” “Touched by an Angel,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Cheers,” “Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures” and “Little House on the Prairie.”
Hallmark Channel continues to expand its offerings to viewers through its companion network, Hallmark Movie Channel, available in both standard definition (SD) and in high definition (HD). Crown Media Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWN), owns and operates the networks.
Hallmark Channel, along with its sibling network Hallmark Movie Channel, serves as the exclusive cable home to the prestigious Hallmark Hall of Fame library, the longest-running and most-awarded movie series in television’s history.
Launched on April 2, 2008, Hallmark Movie Channel in HD is simulcast alongside Hallmark Movie Channel SD, and offers audiences an unparalleled viewing experience. Hallmark Movie Channel, the second linear channel from Crown Media, is a 24-hour digital cable network dedicated to bringing viewers the very best family movies of all time with a mix of classic theatrical films, presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library, original Hallmark Channel movies and special events. It’s seen in nearly 25 million homes in the United States.
PROGRAMMING
New Series
JACK HANNA’S ANIMAL ADVENTURES
Jack Hanna began to receive national attention after he became Director of the rundown Columbus Zoo in Columbus, Ohio in 1978. He not only transformed the zoo into a model facility, but through his media savvy made the Columbus Zoo a household name. His show, “Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures,” is a reality television series about animals and their exciting adventures. Hanna, one of America's most beloved naturalists and adventurers, takes millions of family viewers on amazing journeys each week to learn about animals and the places they live. Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures” will premiere Saturday, October 3 (6 – 9 a.m.) and will be presented weekly on Saturdays in that time period as well as on Sundays (8 – 9:30 a.m.).
Hallmark Channel Specials
HALLOWEEN ON ICE
Halloween is coming early this year with a twist and a triple axel, making for an unforgettable event. This thrilling spectacle, combining Halloween haunts with some of the world’s most accomplished and decorated skaters, features musical legend Chip Davis with his band, Mannheim Steamroller, and performances from skaters such as Olympic medalists Nancy Kerrigan, Todd Eldredge and Elvis Stojko; eight-time British Champion Steven Cousins; three-time Israeli National Champion Tamar Katz, and more. The event is one of several Disson Skating specials that will air throughout the coming year on Hallmark Channel. A special, one-night-only event, “Halloween on Ice,” premieres on Hallmark Channel Friday, October 30 (8 – 10 p.m.).
THE 121st ROSE PARADE®
“The 121st Rose Parade,” hosted by Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards, originates in Pasadena, Calif., and will feature majestic floral floats, high-stepping equestrian units and spirited marching bands selected from among the best in the nation. In addition to the parade coverage which will be presented live and commercial-free, Hallmark Channel will present the one-hour entertainment special, “Countdown to the Rose Parade,” Friday, Jan. 1 (7 - 8 a.m. PT/ 10 – 11 a.m. ET). The special, which captures the excitement of last-minute activity live from the Pasadena, Calif., parade site, will be hosted by the Emmy Award®-winning team from the “KTLA Morning News.” “The 121st Rose Parade” premieres on Hallmark Channel Friday, Jan. 1, 2010 (8 – 10 a.m. PT/ 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET) and will also be replayed in its entirety immediately following (10 a.m. – 1 p.m. PT/ 1 – 4 p.m. ET).
Hallmark Channel Original Movies
ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Back in 1989, Grace (Rena Sofer, “24”) and Michael (Dean McDermott, “Tori and Dean”) were the perfect high school sweethearts but, like so many teenage relationships before theirs, it was not meant to last. Twenty years later, Michael’s sister convinces her perpetually single brother to attend his 20-year high school reunion, while Grace’s boyfriend, Phillip, convinces her to do the same. Shocked to have run into each other after all this time, Grace and Michael reconnect, and as they reminisce over old times, the memories and laughter lead to rekindled feelings from their abandoned relationship. Now, with Grace’s mom (Barbara Eden, “I Dream of Jeannie”) pushing her daughter to end up with the man she thought was right for Grace all along and Grace’s father (Max Gail, “Barney Miller”) wishing Grace’s mother would just stay the heck out of it, Grace must decide between the reliability of a relationship with Phillip or the uncertainty of a romance that already burned out once before. “Always and Forever,” a Hallmark Channel original movie, premieres Saturday, October 24 (9 – 11 p.m.).
FLOWER GIRL
Florist Laurel Haverford (Marla Sokoloff, “The Practice”) is beginning to doubt she’ll ever meet the man who will ride up on horseback and sweep her off her feet. Her grandmother, Rose Durham (Marion Ross, “Happy Days”), on the other hand, hasn’t given up hope, and continues to try, however unsuccessfully, to fix Laurel up with the perfect man. Her best friend, Brooke (Brook Kerr, “Passions”), thinks Laurel is just attracted to “red flag” men, ones who give subtle hints that they aren’t looking to settle down. Then, by chance, two different men are both actively interested in Laurel – the charming Dr. Evan Cooper (Terry Maratos,” “Drived”) and the mysterious writer Stephen Banks (Kieren Hutchison, “Wildfire”). Laurel knows she can’t date both forever, and must decide if she can afford to wait any longer for Mister Right or if she should get married to someone she isn’t in love with just for the sake of settling down. “Flower Girl,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, premieres Saturday, November 14 (9 – 11 p.m.).
National Tree
When his tree is chosen to be planted outside the White House, teenaged video blogger Rock Burdock (Evan Williams, “Degarassi: The Next Generation”) from Oregon has to drive across the country to deliver it in time for the holidays. Accompanied by his father, Corey (Andrew McCarthy, “Lipstick Jungle”), who planted the tree for him the day he was born, and the determined Faith Russell (Kari Matchett, “ER”), a marketing rep from the organization funding the journey, the young traveler will decide whether the tree’s value is worth more than the attention it garners him. “National Tree,” a Hallmark Channel original movie, premieres Saturday, November 28 (9 – 11 p.m.).
Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle
Losing a spouse is always hard, and for Seth Webster (James Van Der Beek, “Dawson’s Creek”) playing single dad to two rambunctious 6-year-olds doesn’t make it any easier. With the holidays approaching, finding a housekeeper has proved to be near impossible, until Mrs. Emily Merkle (Doris Roberts, “Everybody Loves Raymond”) shows up at the Websters’ door, ready to turn their lives around. Quickly, Seth’s boys dub her “Mrs. Miracle” due to her uncanny ability to stay on top of their every move. Soon, Seth meets Reba Maxwell (Erin Karpluk, “The L Word”), and after just one date, they find they have a lot of things in common. With a fresh romance on the horizon and a Christmas pageant to prepare for, Mrs.
Miracle definitely has her work cut out for her and is proving to be more than just a nanny. “Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle,” a Hallmark Channel original movie, premieres Saturday, December 5 (9 – 11 p.m.).
Christmas in Canaan
DJ (Zak Ludwig, “Supernatural”) and Rodney (Jaishon Fisher, “Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story”) don't like each other at the start. Rodney thinks DJ is an ignorant white farm boy, and DJ thinks Rodney acts too smart for his own good. After a schoolyard tussle between the two, DJ's father (Billy Ray Cyrus, “Hannah Montana”) and Rodney's grandmother, Miss Eunice (Candus Churchill, “The Andromeda Strain”), come up with a clever solution that brings the boys closer than either of them would like: They have to spend time together at each other’s homes. During that time, they discover an injured puppy that they nurse back to health and that eventually brings the boys together. Living in Canaan, Texas, in the 1960s does not make it easy for the two boys to forge a friendship, but with the help of an unforgettable Christmas, DJ and Rodney find a forgiving landscape where hope and love make all the difference. “Christmas in Canaan,” a Hallmark Channel original movie, premieres Saturday, December 12 (9 – 11 p.m.).
THE Three Gifts
When an orphanage is scheduled for renovations during the holiday season, owner Rita Green (Mimi Kennedy, “Dharma & Greg”) must find a temporary home for some of the children. The three eldest boys, Mike (Dylan Sprayberry, “State of the Union”), Henry (Alex Zubarev) and Ray (Spencir Bridges, “The Starter Wife”), move in with Rita’s nephew Jack (Dean Cain, “Las Vegas”) and his wife Cherie (Jean Louisa Kelly, “Yes, Dear”), who run a toy company. Jack is worried he is not cut out for taking care of the boys, who are notorious throughout town for their troublemaking. Cherie, on the other hand, is excited as she and Jack are unable to have children of their own. The first night in their new home, Ray overhears Cherie mention to Jack the possibility of adopting one of them. Suddenly, the three boys, each wanting desperately to be adopted, find themselves competing for the adoration of their temporary guardians, and in just a week, are able to turn their acts around. But when they hear they’re all headed back to the orphanage after the holidays, the heartbroken boys decide to run away. It is only once they’ve gone missing that Jack realizes he’s ready to be a father – their father – and even the young at heart must grow up and adopt responsibility. Reginald VelJohnson (“Family Matters”) also stars in “Three Gifts,” a Hallmark Channel original movie premiering Saturday, December 19 (9 – 11 p.m.).
Hallmark Channel Feature Film Premieres
FOR THE LOVE OF BENJI
In this outing, Benji finds himself on the loose in Athens. An international spy places a secret oil formula within the folds of Benji's paw and, before the poor dog knows what's happening, he's being pursued through the ancient metropolis by a daunting variety of villains. Fortunately, Benji is smarter than his pursuers. Patsy Garrett (“Nanny and the Professor”) and Ed Nelson (“Runaway Jury”) also star in “For the Love of Benji,” making its Hallmark Channel debut Saturday, October 3 (5 – 7 p.m.).
BENJI: OFF THE LEASH!
“Benji: Off the Leash!” follows the plight of three underdogs: Benji; the funny but none-too-bright Sheldon; and Colby, a 14-year-old facing some real problems. The unlikely trio is brought together by the nefarious efforts of an ill-intentioned puppy breeder who wants to use Benji's mother in an irresponsible backyard puppy mill. “Benji: Off the Leash!” makes its Hallmark Channel and cable debut Saturday, October 3 (7 – 9 p.m.).
Hallmark Movie Channel Premieres
VICTOR: THE VICTOR DAVIS STORY
Mark Lutz (“Angel”) stars as the title character in an inspiring, true-life story of a great Canadian hero -- a working class kid who through sheer guts and determination overcomes both physical and psychological challenges to reach the pinnacle of his sport, becoming an Olympic gold medal champion swimmer and World Record holder. “Victor: The Victor Davis Story” makes its Hallmark Movie Channel debut Thursday, October 1 (8 – 10 p.m.).
20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (1954)
Three shipwrecked survivors are taken captive by the mysterious Captain Nemo (James Mason, “The Verdict”). Wavering between genius and madness, Nemo has launched a deadly crusade across the seven seas. But can the captive crew expose his evil plan before he destroys the world? Kirk Douglas (“Spartacus”) and Peter Lorre (“Casablanca”) also star in “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” making its Hallmark Movie Channel debut Friday, October 9 (8 – 11 p.m.).
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THEEARTH (2008)
Famed anthropologist Jonathan Brock (Rick Schroder, “Lonesome Dove”) has just accepted the most dangerous and exciting assignment of his entire career. Four years ago, Edward Dennison (Peter Fonda, “3:10 to Yuma”) husband of wealthy Martha Dennison (Victoria Pratt. “Fool for Love”) mysteriously vanished while embarking on an expedition to the planet's core. Now, in order to retrace Edward's footsteps, Jonathan enlists the aid of his nephew, Abel, and Edward's former partner, Sergei. With Martha in tow, Jonathan, Abel and Sergei make their way into the great unknown and discover something truly spectacular. “Journey to the Center of the Earth” makes its Hallmark Movie Channel debut Thursday, October 15 (8 – 10 p.m.).
THE ROCKETEER
The discovery of a top-secret jetpack hurls test pilot Cliff Secord (Bill Campbell, “The 4400”) into a daring adventure of mystery, suspense and intrigue. Cliff encounters an assortment of ruthless villains, led by a Hollywood screen star who is a secret Nazi spy. With the help of his actress girlfriend (Jennifer Connelly, “A Beautiful Mind”), the young pilot battles enormous odds to defeat his foes who plan to use the jetpack in an evil plan to rule the world. This dangerous mission transforms the ordinary young man into an extraordinary hero. “The Rocketeer” makes its Hallmark Movie Channel debut Friday, October 23 (8 – 10:30 p.m.).
WHISPERS: AN ELEPHANT’S TALE
Whispers (Debi Derryberry, “Horton Hears a Who”), an innocent and adorable baby elephant who's just learning to walk on his own four feet, finds himself separated from his loving mother, Gentle Heart (Anne Archer, “Privileged”). In his desperate search to find her, he meets the cynical loner, Groove (Angela Bassett, “ER”), an outcast from her own herd who never wanted to be a mother. Together, this unlikely pair braves danger after danger on their incredible journey to find water and Whispers' mother. Set in the wilds of Africa, and starring real animals who express themselves with human voices, “Whispers: An Elephant’s Tale” makes its Hallmark Movie Channel debut Friday, October 23 (10:30 p.m. – 12 midnight).
*All times are ET/PT.