Hallmark Channel Bulks Up Catalogue

NEW YORK, March 26:
Hallmark Channel has acquired 99 classic family movies, as well as the hit
series The Golden Girls, from
Disney-ABC Domestic Television, and has a slate of 30 original movies to air
throughout the year.

Films in the 99-picture
package include Disney's The Shaggy Dog, Flubber, Old
Yeller, The Parent Trap, The Incredible Journey, The Princess Diaries, Freaky Friday, The Santa Clause, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, That Darn Cat, The Love Bug, The Shaggy Dog, Mighty
Joe Young, Babes in Toyland, The Cat from Outer Space, Gus,
Return to Snowy River, Snowball
Express, White Fang, The Apple Dumpling Gang and Swiss Family Robinson. The newly acquired movies will air on Hallmark
Channel as well as on Hallmark Movie Channel.

Also from Disney-ABC, The
Golden Girls is set to air on
Hallmark Channel as well. The classic series, which began its seven-season run
in September 1985, features four older-aged women who live together in
Miami.

Furthermore, the network
has a slate of 30 original films set to air in 2008. Finished films include The
Shell Seekers, starring Vanessa
Redgrave and Maximilian Schell, which will air May 3 at 9 p.m.; Final
Approach, starring Dean Cain,
Anthony Michael Hall and Lea Thompson, premiering May 24 at 9 p.m.; Shark
Swarm, starring John Schneider,
Daryl Hannah and Armand Assante, which will premiere May 25 at 9 pm.; and McBride:
Requiem, starring John
Larroquette, which is set to debut in June. In July, the channel will premiere The
Gunfighter's Pledge, starring Luke
Perry and C. Thomas Howell. Following with a premiere in August is Murder
101: Locked Room Mystery, starring
Dick Van Dyke, Barry Van Dyke and Shane Van Dyke. Original movies currently in
production include The Ride of Her Life, Dear Prudence, Herb's
Murders, Saving Grace and Ladies of the House, along with three others.

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski