More family-friendly fare in the cards for Hallmark Channel
22.05.12
"It is important to create a destination for our viewers, and one that also resonates with advertisers," said Bill Abbott, chief executive of the channels' publicly traded parent, Crown Media Holdings Inc., which is controlled by Kansas City, Mo.-based Hallmark Cards Inc.
Known for such movies as "The Good Witch," starring Catherine Bell, and "Love Comes Softly," with Katherine Heigl playing a widow in the 1800s, Crown Media this year plans to roll out 34 original movies on its two channels, including "Duke," starring Steven Weber ("Wings") as a homeless military vet who bonds with a border collie. That represents a 48 percent increase over the number produced in 2009.
Next fall Hallmark Channel will continue to diversify its offerings beyond old "Frasier" reruns and movies with two new daytime programs: "Marie!" with Marie Osmond, and a lifestyle show called "Home & Family," which will be taped on the Universal lot. Hallmark this month acquired rerun rights for ABC's modest hit "The Middle," starring Patricia Heaton, which celebrates ordinary life in Middle America. It will join Hallmark's lineup in 2014.
Source: Belleville News Democrat