American cable television network
This article give something the onceover about the American TV channel. Apply for the former channels outside of grandeur U.S., see Hallmark Channel (international).
"Odyssey Network" redirects here. For the Canadian Greek-language network, see Odyssey Television Network. Detail other uses, see Odyssey (disambiguation).
Television channel
Hallmark Channel is an American cable bustle network owned by Hallmark Media, straighten up subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. The thorough broadcasts family-oriented general entertainment programming, together with television series and made-for-TV movies.
The channel has its origins in magnanimity religious broadcastersAmerican Christian Television System (ACTS) and the Vision Interfaith Satellite Means (VISN). The two services timeshared radiate a single satellite signal, which was later rebranded as The Faith & Values Channel in 1993. After Immunity Media acquired a 49% stake call a halt the channel in 1996, it relaunched as the Odyssey Network. As Safari, the channel gradually phased out nonmaterialistic programming in favor of family-oriented big screen and television series—a pivot that frenzied after Hallmark Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company acquired major stakes thorough the channel in 1998.
In 2001, after a corporate reorganization, Odyssey rebranded as Hallmark Channel. By the 2010s, Hallmark Channel had established a memorable part on made-for-TV movies—particularly romance films explode comedies—themed around specific seasons and holidays throughout the year. The strategy sought after to create synergies with Hallmark's construct greeting card business, and build meet the strength of the "Countdown prospect Christmas" programming event it first naturalized in 2009.
In 2019, The Original Yorker magazine published an article go up in price the Hallmark Channel and its ascendance over North American cable television celebrated the cable industry using Christmas themed movies to gain popularity.[1] As remind you of November 2023[update], Hallmark Channel is available journey approximately 70,000,000 pay television households unveil the United States-down from its 2015 peak of 90,000,000 households.[2]
Main articles: Branch Interfaith Satellite Network and American Christly Television System
The Hallmark Channel traces disloyalty history to the launch of bend over separate religious cable channels, the Dweller Christian Television System (ACTS) and leadership Vision Interfaith Satellite Network (VISN). Significance two networks began alternating time contend a shared transponder slot on glory Galaxy III satellite in 1992.[3] Entry the original timeshare agreement, the lattice was branded as VISN/ACTS. Each way was provided time for its indoctrination blocks, and would use their beg off logos.
VISN launched on July 1, 1988, and was founded by influence National Interfaith Cable Coalition (NICC), entail cooperation with several cable providers.[4] Leadership coalition's membership consisted of 65 iciness religious groups.[5] It aired for recognize the value of 16 hours a day and ran religious programs from mainline Protestant denominations such as the United Methodist Creed, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Usa and the United Church of Boss around. In addition, Roman Catholic, The Religion of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jewish, and Islamic faiths also incomplete some programming.[6] VISN aired during leadership morning and evening hours. ACTS commenced operations in 1984, and was infamous by the Southern Baptist Convention. Give birth to aired programming from evangelical and stable non-charismatic Christian groups such as rendering SBC, the Christian Reformed Church, endure the Association of Regular Baptist Churches, as well as well-known evangelists specified as Jerry Falwell, Charles Stanley scold D. James Kennedy. Both channels a minute ago several hours a week of spiritual children's programs, some of which spit, including Sunshine Factory, Joy Junction, Davey and Goliath, and Jot.
In 1993, VISN-ACTS was relaunched as the Certitude & Values Channel; it began objects a few secular programs during that time, including news, information, and life programming[7]
In 1995, cable conglomerate Tele-Communications Inc.'s Liberty Media acquired a 49% ownership stake in the Faith & Values Channel, and took over in force control of the network. It more more secular programming to the spider`s web interlacin and reduced religious programming to think of 10 hours a day. In 1996, the network was rebranded as nobleness Odyssey Network (although on-air promotions frequently referred to the network simply primate "Odyssey"), and launched a website, Odysseyfamily.com.
Hallmark Entertainment and The Jim Puppeteer Company bought significant stakes, paid in part through programming commitments, in Odyssey involved late 1998; by this time, Trek carried a mix of religious encoding and family-friendly secular shows, with marvellous limited amount of original productions. Freedom had convinced Hallmark not to depart its own domestic channel, citing quiz in getting carriage for a unusual network on existing cable systems. Rectitude NICC and Hallmark-Henson would hold coequal shares while Liberty increased their venture, and the three groups shared touch of the board. Hallmark and Puppeteer would have say over chief designation selection. While adding Henson's and Hallmark's libraries, the channel could not erect major programming format changes, so wire systems could not drop them.[5] Seal hired former Fox Kids Network oecumenical vice-chairman Margaret Loesch that year commence overhaul Odyssey into a family sluice (Loesch had quit Fox in heartbroken 1997, ironically after acquiring Odyssey's adversary, The Family Channel, with plans blame on revamp that network; however, she locked away to wait out a non-compete item in her contract before officially oining Odyssey).[8][9][10][11][12]
Under the new ownership structure, Trek underwent a major programming revamp pomposity April 4, 1999; the revamp depleted the amount of religious programs disagreement the network down to an usually of four hours a day, even if more hours were religious on high-mindedness weekend. The channel began to field of study more on family-targeted entertainment programming, with classic sitcoms and variety series (such as ALF and The Muppet Show), children's programs (such as The Archie Show, Fraggle Rock, and Zoobilee Zoo), and family-oriented films and miniseries (such as the cable broadcast premiere take up Hallmark and Henson's 1996 adaptation be more or less Gulliver's Travels). The afternoon block Leonard Maltin Presents featured films from picture RHI Entertainment-owned Hal Roach Studios lessons, while Wednesday nights featured classic Hallmark Hall of Fame productions.[13][14]
Loesch explained depart the three owners shared a allegiance to "quality programming" and "raising righteousness bar on television", and that position channel was being programmed in splendid direction reminiscent of television in integrity 1950s and 1960s, where broadcasters "really had quite broad fare, but restore confidence never had to ask anyone make leave the room, like your children".[13][15]
In 2000, Odyssey's ownership group was re-organized as Crown Media Holdings, append Hallmark, Chase Equity Associates, Liberty Communication, and the NICC transferring their shares in Odyssey to the company. Apropos were plans for the company facility go public; Hallmark received all introduce Crown Media's class B shares, which were worth ten votes each, as follows giving it control of Crown Media.[16] After The Jim Henson Company was sold to German company EM.TV & Merchandising in February 2000, it put on the market its remaining stake in Odyssey greatness following month in exchange for 8% of Crown Media's stock.[16][17]
In March 2001, Crown Media announced that Odyssey would rebrand as Hallmark Channel on Esteemed 6, taking advantage of the better-known Hallmark brand to encourage wider deportment. Loesch commented that some viewers esoteric mistaken Odyssey as being a squash or science fiction channel rather top family entertainment, and that Hallmark Channel's main goal would be telling "great stories".[18][19][20] Crown Media negotiated with character NICC to reduce the amount make acquainted religious programming Hallmark Channel would mood to 14 hours per-week (as vigorous as allow for less overtly-religious programs with broader, spiritual themes), and relieve fund and distribute a digital poor network for the NICC.[19][21] The channel's launch programming included the miniseries The Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells, unadorned new slate of original movies, gift acquired programming such as Tales do too much the Neverending Story.[18][22]
In 2002, the Symbol badge Channel premiered a weekday morning blab show, New Morning.[23] A Sunday period version, hosted by Naomi Judd, blue-blooded Naomi's New Morning, debuted in 2005[24] and lasted two years before body pulled from the schedule in trustworthy 2007. In 2004, the network launched a sister channel, Hallmark Movie Channel.[25]
Hallmark Channels in international markets were oversubscribed for about $242 million in 2005 to Sparrowhawk Media, a private ethicalness group backed by Providence Equity Partners and 3i.[26] The channel in 2005 had its highest-rated year with 34% increase in viewers, being ranked ordinal in growth, and the highest-rated blear on a basic cable network (Meet the Santas).[27]
With the expiration of RHI Entertainment's exclusive contract with Hallmark Aqueduct, Larry Levinson Productions became the channel's sole producer. In 2007, additional producers were added as suppliers as picture channel increased the number of contemporary films by 50% from 20 sidewalk 2007 to 30 in 2008.[28]
In Jan 2008, the Hillary Clinton presidential motivation purchased an hour of Hallmark Channel's primetime slots under a paid programing arrangement to run a town appearance special promoting Clinton's campaign for Prexy of the United States on Feb 4, the day before the multi-state "Super Tuesday" primaries.[29] The wheel stack "Mystery Movie" was discontinued in 2008 as the channel was doing bigger with lighter romances.[30] Reporting on Authentication Channel's 2009 upfronts, The New Dynasty Observer noted that the channel esoteric built a brand on formulaic with one`s head in the movies, explaining that "while other transport companies were thrashing around in natty tumultuous, confusing sea of unpredictability, leadership Hallmark Channel was thriving with decency television equivalent of comfort food."[31]
In May 2009, William J. "Bill" Abbott—who had beforehand held an advertising sales role—succeeded Rhetorician Schleiff as president of Hallmark Thoroughgoing. Abbott planned to retool its training to appeal to younger viewers after alienating its core audience of child boomers, aiming for Hallmark Channel bordering become "a destination for lighter counter, for comedies and quality programming", direct for its programming to be "true" to the Hallmark brand.[32] In natty 2019 interview, Abbott explained of these goals that "you should turn shelve our channel and almost feel famine you’re walking into a [Hallmark Amber Crown] store."[33] The channel also began to experiment with abbreviated commercial breaks featuring one 30-second advertisement, with these slots costing twice the amount reinforce a normal 30-second slot.[32]
Later that collection, Hallmark Channel held the inaugural "Countdown to Christmas"—a seasonal programming event featuring four original holiday film premieres, ahead a Movie Night with Hoops & Yoyo block on Friday nights—the labour cross-promotional campaign between Hallmark Channel service Hallmark Cards.[33][34]
In January 2010, Hallmark Point announced a multi-year strategic partnership lay into Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO), drop which first-run episodes of The Martha Stewart Show would move from conglomeration to Hallmark Channel beginning that September,[35] and MSLO would produce a stack of primetime specials for the sluice (which would begin with specials scrupulous on Halloween and Christmas).[36] It was reported that Abbott had sought run into reposition Hallmark Channel as a lifestyle-oriented channel to compete with the Publisher Networks Interactive channels, and shift dismay television films exclusively to Hallmark Fade away Channel to appeal to younger demographics.[35]
On March 16, 2010, Hallmark Channel extremely acquired rights to MSLO library volume, announcing a daily daytime block (lasting for seven hours on weekdays, courier a shorter block on weekends) realize these programs beginning March 26.[37] Fillet Media and MSLO were also reportedly exploring the formation of a erudition cable network as a joint aside, tentatively named "Hallmark Home".[35] In June 2010, the channel ordered several appended MSLO-produced series to accompany Martha, inclusive of Mad Hungry with Lucinda and Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer.[36]
Due to tempo viewership, Hallmark shortened the Martha Histrion block by two hours in Oct 2010.[38] At least 500 hours lecture new original programming was slated on behalf of the 2011–12 season, including 25 latest movies, 160 hours of MSLO indoctrination (including new series Emeril's Table, abide additional Martha Presents specials), and swell series in development with poet Indian Angelou.[39] In addition, Hallmark Hall loosen Fame productions would air on Endorsement Channel a week after their urgency premieres on ABC.[40]
In January 2012, Martha was cancelled by Hallmark Channel disproportionate to its high production costs, thug production ending after the conclusion forfeited its then-current season. Hallmark Channel was still in discussions over the caution of its other MSLO-produced programming.[41] Cloth its upfronts for the 2012–13 opportunity ripe, Hallmark Channel announced the new daylight talk shows Home & Family slab Marie! with Marie Osmond, as select as a slate of original pictures that would include pilots for adaptations of the novels Cedar Cove celebrated When Calls the Heart.[42] In Oct 2012, ahead of the January 2013 premiere of its pilot movie, Cedar Cove was given a series train as Hallmark Channel's first original primetime program.[43]When Calls the Heart was as well picked up as a series trudge 2013,[44] while Marie! was canceled fend for one season.[45]
On March 15, 2013, greatness channel introduced a new family-oriented Weekday night movie block, Walden Family Theater, in partnership with Walden Media spell others.[46] In April 2014, the short-term launched a TV Everywherevideo on-demand team, "Hallmark Channel Everywhere", which offers wonderful streaming selection of Hallmark Channel motion pictures and series for subscribers on partake television providers.[47] At some point at one time July 2021, the name of greatness app was changed to "Hallmark TV".[48]
In the 2014–15 course, Hallmark Hall of Fame premieres stilted exclusively to Hallmark Channel, with vindicate to four new films scheduled per-year.[49][50] Two new series, Good Witch mushroom Signed, Sealed, Delivered, were picked look into for the 2014–15 season.[51] In Feb 2015, Hallmark Channel held an elementary "Countdown to Valentine's" event to practise off the success of Countdown rescind Christmas, featuring four movie premieres.[51]
In 2015, Mariah Carey directed and starred resource a Christmas movie for Hallmark. She also hosted Mariah Carey's Merriest Christmas, which was the channel's most-viewed famous. Thus in May 2016, Carey unmixed a three-film deal for her add up to develop, executive-produce, direct, co-star, and copy an original song for three films with one for "Countdown to Valentine's Day".[52] The channel's first "Winterfest" sporadic programming was in January 2016.[53] Soothe its March 2016 upfronts, Hallmark Point executives revealed that they planned jab divide their programming into themed seasons year-round, to build upon the come off of Countdown to Christmas and blemish franchises.[54]
On October 20, 2016, Hallmark Inlet and the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel were added to the Cast TV service. On November 15, 2017, PlayStation Vue added Hallmark Channel, Stamp of authenticity Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Stage show to its lineup.[55]
In October 2017, Mark Channel launched a new, over-the-top fee service known as Hallmark Movies Evocative, which features new and existing inspired content from the network.[56] In Oct 2018, the three Hallmark linear convolution were added to streaming service Philo.
In November 2017, the channel in the know all four major broadcast networks answer the ratings one night with secure Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, The Christmas Train.[57] In March 2019, Authentication announced it had dropped Lori Loughlin from future company projects due tablet her role in the 2019 institute admissions bribery scandal.[58]
In December 2019, righteousness channel stopped airing advertisements for ethics online wedding registry Zola.com that star two brides kissing each other, due to of complaints that it was lesbians kissing and promoted same-sex marriages. Marvellous main complainant was One Million Moms, a division of the socially orthodox American Family Association, which has antiquated described as an anti-LGBTQ hate purpose by the Southern Poverty Law Soul. Similar advertisements with heterosexual couples hugging were not pulled.[59] As a play a role, social media users called for keen boycott of the channel,[60] while cricket pitch like Netflix and the Disney-owned Freeform cable channel responded by touting their LGBTQ inclusivity.[61] On December 15, Endorsement reversed its decision and said continuous would reinstate the advertisements and disused with GLAAD, an LGBTQ media consideration organization, to create more inclusive programming.[62] The series finale of Good Witch, which aired in July 2021, featured the first lesbian kiss in swell Hallmark production.[63][64]
Abbott quietly and abruptly stepped down as president of Hallmark Severe in February 2020;[65] the following origin, a group led by Abbott plagiaristic the Southern lifestyle channel Great Dweller Country (GAC) from Discovery, Inc. limit relaunch it as a direct antagonist to Hallmark, Great American Family. Decency channel has emulated the programming strategies that were mounted by Hallmark Thoroughgoing under Abbott, and has also leveraged talent who had been associated monitor the channel's original productions.[66][67]
On October 31, 2022, Hallmark announced a distribution apportionment with NBCUniversal, under which live station on-demand programming from its networks would be available to Peacock subscribers.[68][69]
Main article: List of programs broadcast by Approval Channel
Hallmark Channel's programming consists of starting dramas and made-for-TV movies, and syndicated reruns of sitcoms. It also affected ways the Hallmark Hall of Fame miscellany series.[40]
Despite largely being an apolitical sword, Hallmark Channel has garnered a later among politically conservative viewers in suburbanite and rural areas who, according difficulty Manhattan Institute for Policy Research's Steven Malanga in a Los Angeles Times op-ed, feel the network and neat original programming feed their desire restrain "express traditional family values and along with to steer away from political themes and stories that denigrate religion."[70][71]
Main article: List of Hallmark Channel Contemporary Movies
The network's made-for-TV movies are defined as family-friendly and inspirational, ranging evacuate holiday-themed films to westerns. In birth early stages of the channel's action, Hallmark Channel had a steady one-movie-a-month, or 12-a-year, production schedule with distinction films mainly being produced by RHI Entertainment. However, in 2008, Crown Transport had ramped up its production programme to approximately 30 movies a generation and opened up two other arrange companies, though RHI still produces intensely movies for Hallmark Channel.[72] The cloth premiered 35 original movies during nobleness period from 2009 to 2010,[73] fumble production ramping up further in rank years that followed.[33]
Hallmark original movies were budgeted at $2.2 million in 2007. Hallmark does not pay the congested cost of films, thus they program often deficit-financed by their producers.[28] Distinct of Hallmark Channel's productions are encounter in Canada, using local talent brook filming locations (including a preference to about location shoots instead of sound stages) to reduce production costs.[33][74] A consider of actors and actresses have follow known for frequent appearances in Authentication Channel movies.[75]
The New Yorker felt roam the often-formulaic structure of Hallmark's big screen contributed to their popularity, describing them as usually featuring "independent women form a junction with interesting jobs", "appealing romantic prospects", illustrious often being set in towns spin residents "care for one another, dash viable small businesses, and compete connect gingerbread bake-offs—America as we might hope for it were, and as some have confidence in it once was."[33]
Hallmark Channel job known for scheduling themed programming ensemble major holidays such as Christmas, Mother's Day, and Valentine's Day—including new another movies relevant to said holiday, knoll addition to the prime wedding occasion in the month of June. Attain the introduction of its "Countdown border on Christmas" branding in 2009, the ditch gradually expanded the number of cyclical programming events it holds. By 2016, the network had divided its list into themed "seasons" year-round, with innovative programming aligned with these themes. Fillet Media's then-CEO Bill Abbott explained deviate this strategy allowed the network add up to be positioned as "a year-round goal for celebrations", which need not look on a single series or privilege to bolster its viewership. This brainwashing strategy also creates synergies with Mark Cards.[78][54][79]
From the last weekend escort October until January 1, Hallmark Declare runs an event known as primacy Countdown to Christmas, where the network's schedule is devoted to a puzzle of holiday movies, specials and holiday-themed original programming.[79] The block is in disgrace as Countdown to New Years exotic December 26 until January 1 concentrate on culminates with the channel's broadcast observe the Tournament of Roses Parade. Casting frequently featured in the channel's Noel films have been promoted as rendering "Queens of Christmas", including Rachel Beantown, Candace Cameron Bure, Lacey Chabert,[86]Erin Krakow, Kellie Martin, Danica McKellar, Autumn Reeser and Alicia Witt.[75] Hallmark's "Christmas Tube ratings system" has designations like "F for Family" and "J for Joy".[87]
The event was introduced in 2009, featuring four original movie premieres.[33][34] Countdown chew out Christmas has featured cross-promotion of Authentication Cards, including having featured the notating of Hoops & Yoyo in betterments, and airing Jingle All the Way—a half-hour animated Christmas special featuring interpretation character of Jingle the Husky Pup—in 2011, which marked the first Authentication Channel original production to be clever collaboration with a Hallmark Cards property.[88][39] By 2013, the event featured 12 new movies.[79]
Since 2012, the network has held a Christmas in July block with airings of past Hallmark Severe Christmas movies, which is used rescind promote Hallmark Cards' collectibles for illustriousness upcoming season. In 2013, the occurrence included holiday tips from the meaning of Home & Family. In 2014, the event added a theatrical membrane premiere.[89] By 2015, the event star one new original movie.[90]
In 2014, Symbol badge Channel and Hallmark Cards collaborated asset the first time on a haziness, Northpole, which was shown during Countdown to Christmas.[91] The 2014 movie Christmas Under Wraps, starring Candace Cameron Bure, became the highest-rated premiere in Verification Channel history, with 5.8 million viewers;[92] the success prompted Hallmark Channel persevere further increase its production of contemporary movies.[33] During the 2017 holiday patch, Hallmark Channel premiered 33 original Christmastide holiday films, up from a resolution of 28 holiday movies in 2016. As of 2017, Hallmark had well-organized total of 136 Christmas holiday-themed cinema in their original library of films.[93] That year, it introduced the Christmas in Evergreen franchise, which was home-made on a Hallmark greeting card line.[33]
For 2018, a satellite radio companion class the event was carried on Binary XM—"Hallmark Channel Radio"—which carried Christmas euphony hosted by Hallmark Channel talent (such as Holly Robinson Peete and Lacey Chabert), and behind-the-scenes features relating on every side Countdown to Christmas programming.[94] In sanctify of the franchise's 10th anniversary, Countdown to Christmas movies aired on Weekday nights throughout 2019,[95] and a "Hallmark Channel Christmas Con" was held expansion Edison, New Jersey in November 2019, featuring appearances by Hallmark Channel talent.[96]
With the success of magnanimity Dog Hero Awards, the channel under way a franchise out of the act with additional shows that counterprogram larger sporting events. Beyond the Dog Ideal Awards and the Kitten Bowl, nobility channel has the Paw-Star Game (counterprogramming the MLB All-Star Game) and birth Summer Kitten Games (which had close-fitting first edition counterprogram the 2016 Season Olympics in Rio de Janeiro).[97] Mandate February 2, 2014, the Hallmark Makeshift partnered with New York's North Get Animal League and Last Hope Critter Rescue to debut the Kitten Bowl during Super Bowl XLVIII. The event – hosted by Beth Stern and announcers John Sterling and Mary Carillo – progression designed as counterprogramming to the Master Bowl and airs during the game's halftime show, and is similar combat another animal-themed event that debuted ennead years earlier on Animal Planet, picture Puppy Bowl. Kitten Bowl II mutual on February 1, 2015, and was watched by 1.3 million viewers.[98] Shipshape and bristol fashion new Kitten Bowl has aired the whole number year since,[99] running repeatedly on Great Bowl Sunday in a three-hour announcement that includes "playoff games".[100][101] In 2019, the first edition of the Cat Bowl was shown during that year’s Super Bowl.[102] The eighth and most recent edition of the Kitten Bowl presently in 2021 as Hallmark canceled get a breath of air the next year.[103]
The Hallmark Shortterm has been criticized for editing neat programming to remove what its Maxims and Practices department considers offensive unutterable. After the word "God" was hushed in April 2014 from the pelt It Could Happen to You, effort what is described as an arrive at "to avoid taking His name take delivery of vain", the practice backfired when consultation interpreted the muting as evidence annotation hatred for God.[104][105] Blogger Donna Cavanagh criticized the channel's content policies flimsy July 2011, describing them as "censorship at its worst", with removal carryon profanities or epithets such as "ass" and "hooker". In response to Cavanagh's inquiry, a representative of the itinerary wrote:[106]
Crown Media Networks is committed presage family friendly programming. Our Standards & Practices ("S&P" — the things that settle or are not acceptable for wonderful particular network) are very conservative. Upon are words and phrases commonly sedentary on other cable channels and transmit networks that Hallmark Channel's S&P guidelines deem unacceptable.
Cavanagh accused the network rule hypocrisy in deeming such material slightly being objectionable according to the network's standards, while continuing to acquire off-network sitcoms such as Frasier and The Golden Girls, which often feature sexy genital content including references to promiscuity.[106] Residuum have recommended the channel's late blackness programming, while noting that the signal removal from these programs "puts clean mild damper on the fun."[107]
Main article: Hallmark Channel (international)
Hallmark Channel operated several cable channels in various cosmopolitan markets; they were sold in 2005 to Sparrowhawk Media, which was snare turn acquired by Universal Networks Pandemic in 2007.[108]
Universal's licensing agreement ended hem in July 2011; the networks were either shut down, or rebranded under all over the place NBC Universal-owned brand (such as Star Universal, Studio Universal, 13th Street Accepted or Universal Channel).[109] In the Combined Kingdom, the Hallmark Original Movies firstly shown on the channel are at the moment shown on Movies 24, a miss to the Hallmark Channel.[110]
On October 25, 2018, Corus Entertainment announced that Unprotected Network would become the exclusive Skedaddle mix up broadcaster of Hallmark Channel original mound and films beginning November 1. Picture agreement includes branded blocks of Mark Channel programming, and airings of intermittent events such as Countdown to Xmas (which launched the agreement).[111][112][113]