Hallmark Channel Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

STUDIO CITY, August 3: The
Hallmark Channel, which is currently in 74 million homes in the U.S., will
celebrate its fifth anniversary on August 5.

Over the last five years,
the network has built upon the Hallmark brand to produce family-friendly
programming, with an emphasis on original movies.

Paul FitzPatrick, the EVP
and COO of Crown Media Holdings, Hallmark Channel’s parent company, declared,
"We achieved some wonderful successes, despite the challenges of launching
during a difficult environment, thanks to the belief our customers—viewers,
distributors and advertisers—have in Hallmark Channel.”

The network has gained
more than 50 million full-time subscriber homes since launching in August 2001.
It ranks in the Top 10 among adults and women 25-54 for total day delivery.

The network’s roster
includes original movies starring faces familiar from series television,
including Patrick Duffy, Dick Van Dyke, Katherine Heigl, Kellie Martin and Tori
Spelling. Since the network’s 2001 launch, the Top 3 highest-rated original
movies have been holiday fare (Meet the Santas and Love’s Long Journey in 2005, and Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus in 2004). The Oscar-winning film March of the
Penguins will have its U.S.
premiere on Hallmark in the upcoming holiday season.