Hallmark Hall of Fame Moves to Hallmark Channel

Hallmark Cards, Inc., today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Crown Media Holdings, Inc. for the Hallmark CHANNEL to become the producer and home for the acclaimed HALLMARK HALL OF FAME television series. Crown Media Holdings operates and distributes Hallmark CHANNEL to more than 90 million subscribers in the United States.

As part of this agreement, Crown Media Productions, the in-house production unit of Crown Media, will develop and produce future HALLMARK HALL OF FAME movies. Hallmark Cards will continue to sponsor the series and will remain involved in the creative process, including approving scripts that build upon the series' reputation for movies that entertain, enlighten and inspire.

"The HALLMARK HALL OF FAME has been one of our brand's most valuable assets and will celebrate its 65 th anniversary this year," said Donald J. Hall, Jr., Hallmark CEO. "Hallmark Channel has become a leading destination for quality, family-friendly programming and is where HALLMARK HALL OF FAME viewers expect to find our programs. Hallmark Channel's experience creating engaging, original content and their outstanding production capabilities make Hallmark CHANNEL the perfect new home."

"We are thrilled to continue the successful legacy of the Hallmark Hall of Fame," said Bill Abbott, president and CEO Crown Media Family Networks. "For the past year, Hallmark CHANNEL has premiered HALLMARK HALL OF FAME movies and now, with Crown Media Productions, we will have the opportunity to play a greater role in continuing the HALLMARK HALL OF FAME tradition."

Since its debut on Christmas Eve 1951, the HALLMARK HALL OF FAME has been one of television's longest running and most beloved drama series. With more than 255 broadcasts to date, the series has earned 81 Emmys and nine Golden Globes. 64 Academy Award-winning actors have appeared in HALLMARK HALL OF FAME presentations.

About Hallmark
For more than 100 years, privately-held Hallmark has been dedicated to creating a more emotionally-connected world. In the U.S., products offered by Hallmark Greetings, Hallmark Retail and Hallmark Home & Gifts can be found in more than 32,000 retail accounts including mass retailers, Hallmark Gold Crown stores and online. Hallmark's family of companies also includes Crayola, maker of creative art tools and toys, Crown Center, a mixed-use entertainment, office and residential district in Kansas City, and Hallmark International which offers products in more than 30 languages available in 100 countries. Hallmark also is a majority stockholder in Crown Media Holdings, Inc., which owns and operates cable television's Hallmark CHANNEL and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Hallmark employs 30,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.Hallmark.com.

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About Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel is Crown Media Family Networks' flagship 24-hour cable television network, distributed nationwide in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) to 90 million homes. The country's leading destination for quality family entertainment, Hallmark CHANNEL delivers on the 100-year legacy of the Hallmark brand. In addition to its signature original movies, the network features an ambitious lineup of other original content, including scripted primetime series, such as GOOD WITCH and When Calls the Heart; annual specials like KITTEN BOWL and Hero Dog Awards; and a daily 2-hour lifestyle show, Home & Family. Additionally, in November 2014, Hallmark CHANNEL became the exclusive home to world premiere presentations of the acclaimed HALLMARK HALL OF FAME franchise. Dedicated to helping viewers celebrate life's special moments, Hallmark CHANNEL also offers such annual holiday programming events as Countdown to Christmas and Countdown to Valentine's Day. Rounding out the network's diverse slate are television's most beloved sitcoms and series, including The Golden Girls, The Middle, Little House on the Prairie, and Frasier.

Crown Media Holdings, Inc. (CRWN), owns and operates Crown Media Family Networks.

SOURCE Hallmark Cards, Inc.