HALLMARK CHANNEL

The 'Hallmark Channel' is a cable television network that broadcasts in over 100 countries. They specialize in series and movies that are appropriate for the whole family. In all countries except the United States they are owned by Sparrowhawk Media Group. The Hallmark name is licenced from Hallmark Cards, Inc.^[1]
The Hallmark Channel in the United States is owned by Crown Media Holdings, in turn majority-owned by Hallmark Cards.

Contents

The Hallmark Channel USA

The Hallmark Channel Australia

The Hallmark Channel UK

The Hallmark Channel Italy

Other Hallmark Channels

See also

Notes

External links

The Hallmark Channel USA

In America, the network began as a merger between 'VISN' (the Vision Interfaith Satellite Network), and the ACTS Network. The combined network initially ran under both names, but was later named the 'Faith and Values Channel', and originally broadcast religious programming only. More secular programming was started in 1996 when the channel was renamed the 'Odyssey Channel'. Hallmark Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company bought stakes in 'Odyssey' in November 1998. The channel was officially renamed on August 5, 2001.
Today, 'Hallmark' specializes in airing past segments from their parent company's ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'' anthology series, which features made-for-television movies and miniseries, most of them from the series' CBS run. Older shows, such as ''The Waltons'', ''Little House on the Prairie'', ''M
★ A
★ S
★ H'', ''Matlock'', ''Diagnosis Murder'', ''Murder, She Wrote'', and ''Walker, Texas Ranger'' are rerun many times a day and replaced the religious programming that aired on the channel for over a decade. Other shows, such as ''JAG'', ''Hogan's Heroes'', ''Family Ties'', ''Nanny and the Professor'', ''Gunsmoke'', ''Bewitched'', ''Perry Mason'', and ''Judging Amy'', have rerun briefly on the network. Hallmark began airing its own weekday morning show entitled New Morning in 2002 and added a Sunday morning version hosted by Naomi Judd entitled Naomi's New Morning in 2005.
In January 2007, Hallmark Channel dropped the Hallmark crown from its logo, but still uses it in certain places on-air, and in other countries.
=Current Programming=

★ Diagnosis Murder

★ Little House on the Prairie

★

★ Murder, She Wrote

★ M
★ A
★ S
★ H

★ Matlock

★ New Morning

★ Touched by an Angel

★ The Walton's

★ Walker, Texas Ranger

The Hallmark Channel Australia

Main articles: Hallmark Channel (Australia)

In Australia, the channel supplements its United States programming with drama from Australia's largest producer of TV drama, Southern Star.

The Hallmark Channel UK

The British version of Hallmark runs mostly United States imports, including TV movies and drama such as ''House'', Judging Amy, The District and the Law & Order franchise. The channel also runs the BBC drama Spooks. Also, Australian drama series McLeod's Daughters has aired on the channel since its launch in 2001.

The Hallmark Channel Italy

The Italian ''Hallmark Channel'' channel is a family-friendly one. It broadcasts United States imports, like Judging Amy and 7th Heaven as well as other family series (like McLeod's Daughters, etc.).

Other Hallmark Channels

★ Hallmark Channel Asia

See also

★ Hallmark Movie Channel

★ List of programs broadcast by Hallmark Channel

Notes

1. http://www.sparrowhawkmedia.com/

External links

★ International site

★ U.S. site

★ Sparrowhawk Broadcast Services Hallmark service provider (all countries)