Crown Media Preps Third Linear Network, SVOD Service

Crown Media Family Networks is launching a third cable network, Hallmark Drama, to sit alongside Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Hallmark Drama is scheduled to launch October 1. In addition to featuring movies and series from Crown Media’s library of original dramatic content, there are plans for new, original programming to be produced exclusively for the network.

Additionally, Crown Media Family Networks is launching Hallmark Movies Now, the company’s first subscription streaming service. Debuting October 3, the SVOD service will be available on iOS, Android, Roku and Amazon Fire, among other devices. Crown Media’s MVPD partners will have the opportunity to offer Hallmark Movies Now as a supplementary subscription service to their customers. For $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year, subscribers can access between 800 and 1,000 hours of family-friendly content not available on Crown Media’s linear channels, with newly refreshed offerings every week.

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, meanwhile, has inked a development deal with TV personality and author Al Roker. The mystery movie brings to life Roker’s novel The Midnight Show Murders: A Billy Blessing Novel and will star Holly Robinson Peete (21 Jump Street). The movie is set to premiere in 2018. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries also signed a development deal with world-renowned strategist and crisis communications specialist Judy Smith. The new mystery movie The Adjuster is loosely based on her real-life experiences and professional work.

Hallmark Channel renewed its hit original series Good Witch, based on the Good Witch movie franchise, for season four. The channel renewed its original lifestyle series Home & Family for a sixth season, which will begin September 11.