Hallmark Partners with Martha Stewart

NEW YORK: Hallmark Channel and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) today announced a pact that includes the cable network scoring exclusive rights to new episodes of The Martha Stewart Show—currently in syndication—as well as the creation of new lifestyle content.

Hallmark will exclusively televise original episodes of The Martha Stewart Show, which is currently in its fifth season and syndicated in the U.S. by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution, beginning this September. In addition, MSLO will develop a range of series and prime-time specials. The Martha Stewart Show will air Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., delivering tips on cooking, entertaining, crafts, gardening and more. From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the cable network will present exclusive original programming that is currently in development at MSLO.

Bill Abbott, the president and CEO of Hallmark Channels, stated: “This is a match made in TV heaven. We couldn’t be more excited about welcoming Martha Stewart to the Hallmark Channel family.  She is the undisputed leader in cooking, home décor, design and gardening, and The Martha Stewart Show is the kind of high-quality, programming that celebrates life, exemplifying Hallmark Channel and the Hallmark brand. We believe the creative programming, branding and advertising opportunities this partnership presents are limitless. As these properties join our already strong lineup which includes a full slate of original movies, our viewers, distributors and advertisers will continue to see in Hallmark Channel a destination like no other.”  

Charles A. Koppelman, the executive chairman of MSLO, added: "We’re very excited about this partnership, which brings together two powerful and trusted brands in the lifestyle arena. The new relationship builds our broadcast strategy, greatly extends our media platform and reach, and we anticipate will have a positive impact on our business. This also will benefit our merchandising and advertising partners, while offering viewers multiple opportunities to watch and learn from Martha and MSLO experts on a single channel at consistent time periods around the country."

Stewart noted: “It has long been a dream of mine to bring our unique evergreen content to television in an expansive way. I’m delighted that we have found the perfect home for the kind of programming that consumers look to us for, a home that is devoted to excellence, family life and celebrations—what we call Living. Our core values and content areas—entertaining, weddings, crafting, cooking, gardening, holidays, pets and humor—are a perfect fit with Hallmark Channel. I’m thrilled with the opportunity to further develop MSLO’s deep pool of talent and provide audiences with exciting new programming that educates, informs, entertains and inspires.”