Hallmark Channel's COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS Off to Strong Start

Hallmark Channel's annual signature holiday programming franchise, "Countdown to Christmas" is off to a very strong start with more than 4.7 million unduplicated viewers tuning into the Saturday premiere of "The Thanksgiving House". The first of twelve new original premieres for the 2013 holiday season, "The Thanksgiving House" scored a 2.9 household rating - the highest rated original movie to ever kick off Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas". The film premiered as the #1 cable program of the day and #1 movie of the week - becoming Hallmark Channel's highest rated and most watched program for 2013 among households and total viewers.

Demonstrating the strength behind Hallmark Channel's holiday fare, the network has marked a notable increase over last year's performance with this weekend garnering an increase of 10% in households, 10% in women 25-54, and 18% in total viewer delivery compared to the 2012 "Countdown to Christmas" kickoff weekend. This past weekend ranks as Hallmark Channel's highest-rated start to "Countdown to Christmas" in the network's history. Additionally, among its key demographic of women 25-54, Hallmark Channel ranked #1 on cable for the entire weekend (.7 rtg).

Among women 25-54, the premiere of "The Thanksgiving House" was the #2 highest-rated movie of the week on cable and the 2nd most watched Hallmark Channel telecast of 2013. In the Saturday, 8-10pm, time period, the original movie ranked #1 among multiple key demographic categories, including HH (2.9 rtg), W25-54 (1.4 rtg), and P2+ (1.5 rtg). In addition, "The Thanksgiving House" was #1 in HH (2,494,000) delivery, and W25-54 (608,000) and P2+ (3,216,000) impressions. The film lifted Hallmark Channel to be the #1 rated cable network in Primetime for the day among households (2.6 HH rtg).

In "The Thanksgiving House", Boston lawyer Mary Ross (Emily Rose) inherits a house in Plymouth from her late aunt and is shocked to discover that it is an historical treasure located on the site of the first Thanksgiving. With the house turning into an unexpected tourist attraction, she finds herself in a battle with a local, handsome historian, Everett Mather (Justin Bruening), who wants to tear down her house to study the site. Mary must decide if it is more important to preserve the house's historical ties, or make it the site of many happy Thanksgivings to come. Movie also stars Lindsay Wagner, Adam Kaufman, and Bruce Boxleitner.

Source: The Nielsen Company, October 28 - November 3, 2013