Hallmark Channel Acquires 99-Picture Slate of Classic Family Disney Movies From Disney-ABC Domestic Television

Hallmark Channel Acquires 99-Picture Slate of Classic Family Disney Movies From Disney-ABC Domestic Television

Acquisition Deal Includes Disney's "The Shaggy Dog," "Flubber," "Old Yeller," "The Parent Trap," "The Incredible Journey," "The Princess Diaries," "Freaky Friday" and "The Santa Clause"

NEW YORK, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Hallmark Channel has acquired the rights to 99 family-friendly movies from Disney-ABC Domestic Television, some of the greatest family films of all time. The deal was announced today by Michelle Vicary, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Scheduling.

The newly acquired movies will play on Hallmark Channel and on its sibling channel, Hallmark Movie Channel -- a new 24-hour channel which airs the greatest family movies of all time. The expansive list of baby boomer favorites includes 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."

"We are thrilled about this deal, one of our most ambitious ever," said Vicary. "This acquisition is another big step in our growth. It will help us expand our library of programming, drive ratings and lower our demos. Most of all, these movies are perfectly suited for the Hallmark brand of family-friendly programming and for the boomer generation, and will therefore help us attract advertisers and spur distribution for both Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel."

Hallmark Channel is known for its original movies and events, including the recent highly-rated movie "The Good Witch," starring Catherine Bell, and popular acquisitions including "Walker, Texas Ranger," "Little House on the Prairie" and "Murder, She Wrote."

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming to a national audience of 84 million subscribers. The top tier program service is distributed through more than 5,450 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country. Hallmark Channel consistently ranks among the top 10 ad-supported cable networks in Prime Time and Total Day household ratings and is the nation's leading network in providing quality family programming. Crown Media also operates a second 24-hour linear channel, Hallmark Movie Channel, and will launch Hallmark Movie Channel HD in April of 2008. For more information, please visit http://www.hallmarkchannelpress.com/.

Hallmark Movie Channel, the second linear channel from Crown Media Holdings, simulcast in SD (Standard Definition) and HD (High Definition), is a 24-hour cable network dedicated to bringing viewers the very best family movies of all time with a mix of classic theatrical films, original Hallmark Channel movies and presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library. In today's crowded television landscape, the network is a unique and captivating entertainment experience, providing programming that families can watch together. Viewers can tune in on Sunday nights to see Hall of Fame favorites including "Sarah Plain and Tall," "What the Deaf Man Heard" and "To Dance with the White Dog." The channel also spotlights a major quarterly programming event, such as the upcoming four-hour mini-series, "Son of the Dragon," starring David Carradine. The mini-series premieres Wednesday, April 2, and will mark the launch of Hallmark Movie Channel HD, offering audiences an unparalleled viewing experience. For more information on Hallmark Movie Channel, please visit http://www.hallmarkmoviechannel.com/.

Disney-ABC Domestic Television is the domestic distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company, providing motion pictures and television programming to pay television, basic cable, broadcast television, video-on-demand (VOD), pay-per-view (PPV), mobile and broadband. Disney-ABC Domestic Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Contacts:

Nancy Carr, 818-755-2643 Jennifer Geisser, 212-445-6654
nancycarr@hallmarkchannel.comjgeisser@hallmarkchannel.com

Jaime Saberito, 212-445-6644
jsaberito@hallmarkchannel.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Hallmark Channel

CONTACT: Nancy Carr, +1-818-755-2643, nancycarr@hallmarkchannel.com, or
Jennifer Geisser, +1-212-445-6654, jgeisser@hallmarkchannel.com, or Jaime
Saberito, +1-212-445-6644, jsaberito@hallmarkchannel.com, all of Hallmark
Channel

Web site:

http://www.hallmarkchannelpress.com/

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