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 100-year legacy that resonates with consumers.  Hallmark Channel has been one of the fastest-growing major ad-supported cable networks since its launch, and is seen in 90 million homes across the United States.  It has a stellar reputation and ratings which often rank the channel in the top 10 in Prime Time.  The network is presented fully in high definition (HD).

 

A staple to the network, Hallmark Channel’s original movies are characterized by strong storytelling through compelling themes and vibrant characters. Complementing its movie schedule, Hallmark Channel also presents a mix of popular television series, including “The Golden Girls,” “Cheers,” “Who’s The Boss,” “Touched by an Angel,” “Doc,” and beginning September 13, 2010, a new block of daytime programming from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

 

Hallmark Channel continues to expand its offerings to viewers through its companion network, Hallmark Movie Channel.

 

Launched in April 2008, Hallmark Movie Channel in HD is simulcast alongside Hallmark Movie Channel SD, and offers audiences an unparalleled viewing experience. Hallmark Movie Channel, the fastest- growing cable TV network in 2009 and 2010 and now in 37 million homes, is a 24-hour digital cable network dedicated to bringing viewers family-friendly movies with a mix of classic theatrical films, presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library, Hallmark Channel Original Movies and special events.

 

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.

 

Crown Media Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWN), owns and operates Hallmark Channels.

 

 

 

PROGRAMMING

 

Hallmark Channel Series

 

 

THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW

The 2010 Emmy® Award winner for Best Lifestyle Program, "The Martha Stewart Show" moves to Hallmark Channel every weekday beginning Monday, September 13 (10 – 11 a.m.). “The Martha Stewart Show,” filmed in New York City with a live studio audience, informs and inspires viewers on subjects from cooking and entertaining to crafting and gardening. Host Martha Stewart will chat with renowned chefs, seasoned artisans and designers, authors, collectors, entertainers and experts from all walks of life in this interactive format that celebrates Martha's sense of fun and love of teaching. There will be encore airings of “The Martha Stewart Show” 4 – 5 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m. weekdays.

 

 

Whatever with Alexis & Jennifer (working title)

Hallmark Channel will premiere “Mad Hungry with Lucinda Scala Quinn” beginning Monday, September 13 (12 - 12:30 p.m.), airing daily on weekdays. Lucinda Scala Quinn is the ubiquitous Executive Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, host of the radio show “EatDrink” on Sirius XM and author of popular cookbooks including her most recent title, Mad Hungry: Feeding Men & Boys. Lucinda's goal with the show is to bring family back to the dinner table. She will reveal her tips on how she has conquered the challenge of whetting the appetites of her husband and three sons and helped them foster a love of cooking

 

 

MAD HUNGRY WITH LUCINDA SCALA QUINN

The 2010 Emmy^® Award winner for Best Lifestyle Program, "The Martha Stewart Show" moves to Hallmark Channel every weekday beginning Monday, September 13 (10 – 11 a.m.).  “The Martha Stewart Show,” filmed in New York City with a live studio audience, informs and inspires viewers on subjects from cooking and entertaining to crafting and gardening.  Host Martha Stewart will chat with renowned chefs, seasoned artisans and designers, authors, collectors, entertainers and experts from all walks of life in this interactive format that celebrates Martha's sense of fun and love of teaching.  There will be encore airings of “The Martha Stewart Show” 4 – 5 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m. weekdays.

 

 

 

 

Hallmark Channel Original Movies

 

 

 

LIES BETWEEN FRIENDS

Art authenticator Joss Jenner (Gabrielle Anwar, “Burn Notice”) joins six college girlfriends at a bed and breakfast for a bridal shower weekend. Many of them have grown apart over the years since they graduated, especially Joss and her freshman year roommate, Cait Randall (Thea Gill, “Queer as Folk). As the guests settle in, Cait begs Joss to sit down and have a discussion about an unresolved dispute from their past, where she promises to “reveal everything.” Joss, who believes her college boyfriend, Eric, cheated on her with Cait, reluctantly agrees to hear her out. Before Cait can explain, though, Joss finds her dead, apparently pushed off the roof. What at first looks to be an accident is instead presumed to be a murder, and soon everyone is a suspect. Sheriff Zack Watts (Craig Sheffer, “One Tree Hill”) arrives to investigate, and Joss is eager to help solve the crime and uncover the secret that Cait never got a chance to tell her. She becomes fixated on the case, and soon discovers that everyone involved has a past secret. “Lies Between Friends,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, premieres Saturday, July 31 (9 – 11 p.m.).

 

 

CLASS

Preppy and wealthy Whitt Sheffield (Justin Bruening, “Knight Rider”) is in his last semester of law school when a professor (Constance Marie, “George Lopez”) assigns him to act as an advocate for a young, single mother who needs help finding — and keeping — a job.  Whitt, whose snooty father (Eric Roberts, “The Dark Knight”) wants Whitt to follow him into corporate law, is insulted by the low-class assignment, especially after he meets Kylie Burch (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, “Prison Break”), the woman he has to help.  Kylie and Whitt clash at first, and it looks like Whitt will never be able to help her if he doesn’t understand her situation.  But when Kylie and her son’s future as a family is suddenly threatened, Whitt discovers he and Kylie may not be so different, after all.  “Class,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie premieres Saturday, August 14 (9 – 11 p.m.).

 

 

THE WISH LIST

Sarah Fischer (Jennifer Esposito, “Samantha Who?”) is tired of dating all the wrong men.  Taking a cue from her own organized, logical and somewhat boring lifestyle, she decides to make a mile-long list of all the qualities her perfect mate should have—right down to the look of his feet.  It isn’t long before Sarah bumps into Erik (Mark Deklin, “Better Off Ted”), a handsome, perfect-on-paper, doctor and they become inseparable.  At the same time, Sarah meets Fred (David Sutcliffe, “Private Practice”), the new, eccentric barista at her favorite coffee shop who is the opposite of all the qualifications Sarah’s list outlines.  As Sarah and Erik get more serious, she can’t help but be drawn to Fred and must decide whether to follow her list or follow her heart.  “The Wish List,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, premieres Saturday, August 28 (9 – 11 p.m.).

 

 

FAIRFIELD ROAD

Noah McManus (Jesse Metcalfe, “Desperate Housewives”) is leaving his job with the Boston mayor’s office for a dream gig in Washington, D.C. But in a single day, he finds out his new boss in Washington is a corrupt Senator who can no longer employ him and that his girlfriend has been cheating on him. Devastated, Noah travels to a quaint Cape Cod town and when he falls into the middle of a heated local election and finds a connection with Hailey (Natalie Lisinska, “Degrassi, The Next Generation”), the local bookshop owner, he unexpectedly finds himself at home. “Fairfield Road,” a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, premieres Saturday, September 11 (9 – 11 p.m.).

 

 

 

Hallmark Channel Film Premireres

 

 

SOCCER DOG

Alden (James Marshall, “Twin Peaks”), a successful man with nostalgia for his days as a soccer player, adopts an orphan so he can teach him all about his favorite sport. But soon after bringing the boy home, the new father is disappointed to discover that his son is not interested in playing soccer. Tensions grow between the two until a stray dog with a remarkable talent for playing soccer shows up and helps bring the father and son together. Olivia d'Abo (“Law & Order: Criminal Intent”) also stars in “Soccer Dog” making its Hallmark Channel debut Sunday, August 8 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.).

 

 

HACHI: A DOG'S TALE

When his master, Parker Wilson (Richard Gere, “Nights in Rodanthe”), dies, a loyal pooch named Hachiko keeps a regular vigil -- for more than a decade -- at the train station where he once greeted the man every day. Based on a true story, Hachiko’s faithful routine teaches the station’s patrons about true love and commitment. Joan Allen (“The Bourne Ultimatum”) and Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”) also star in the world television premiere of “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale,” Sunday, September 26 (9 – 11 p.m.).

 

 

 

Hallmark Movie Channel Original Premieres

 

 

AFTER THE FALL

Twenty-two-year-old Jenna Danville (Andrea Bowen, “Desperate Housewives”) is at the height of her equestrian career when she is thrown from her horse during a big competition. Knocked unconscious and into a coma, Jenna eventually wakes up in the hospital and the doctors tell her she may never walk again. With her protective single father, Philip (Greg Evigan, “My Two Dads”), at her side, she decides to enter into an intense physical therapy program as part of a research study, with no guarantee of success. Lonely and frustrated, Jenna comes close to giving up until she befriends Annie (Fiona Dourif, “Deadwood”), a skull-wearing, heavy-metal-loving patient in her therapy class. Jenna also meets her new next-door neighbor, ex-rodeo cowboy Will Dutton (Rick Malambri, “Step Up 3-D”), who encourages her to get back on her horse. Just as Jenna is beginning to feel her feet, and fall in love with Will, she learns Annie is in more trouble than anyone could have guessed. Suddenly, Jenna must risk her own life to save her friend, and teach herself healing takes one step at a time. “After the Fall,” a Hallmark Movie Channel Original, premieres Saturday, October 9 (8 – 10 p.m.).

 

 

 

Hallmark Movie Channel Film Premieres

 

 

THE INSPECTORS

This fast-paced thriller centers on the sometimes dangerous world of two United States Postal Inspectors as they try to find the culprit behind a mail bombing. The two inspectors couldn't be more different. Frank Hughes (Louis Gossett Jr., “Lackawanna Blues”) has been at the job for years and is an ace crime solver with his own way of doing things. His partner, Alex Urbina (Jonathan Silverman, “Close to Home”), is fresh out of Harvard. Both of their skills are tested when they are assigned to locate the person responsible for the mail bomb. “The Inspectors” premieres oh Hallmark Movie Channel Thursday, August 5 (10 p.m.- 12 a.m.).

 

 

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 Movie Channel debut Friday, August 6 (6 – 8 p.m.).

 

 

THE MISADVENTURES OF MERLIN JONES

Merlin Jones (Tommy Kirk, “The Shaggy Dog”) is a gifted, but slightly oddball student who, accompanied by his girlfriend Jennifer (Annette Funicello, “Babes in Toyland”), sets out on a series of comic misadventures. From trying to solve what appears to be a horrendous burglary and murder plot to having a chimp-napping charge pinned on him, no one is exempt from Merlin's wacky sense of oddball adventure. The Hallmark Movie Channel Premiere of “The Misadventures of Merlin Jones” is Friday, August 20 (6 – 8 p.m.).

 

 

 

 

*All times are ET/PT.