ITV

Tag: Hallmark US

  • Warner, News Corp, Viacom vie for Hallmark US

    Warner, News Corp, Viacom vie for Hallmark US

    MUMBAI: Crown Media, which owns and operates Hallmark US has said that it has been approached by several parties regarding the acquisition of Hallmark.

    Earlier this year in March Crown Media had sold the international arm of Hallmark for $ 242 million to a group of investors comprised of Providence Equity Partners, 3i and UK television executive David Elstein.

    Parties said to be interested in buying Hallmark Channel are News Corp, Viacom, Time Warner Comcast and Scripps Networks.

    The News Corp bid was confirmed by News Corp president Peter Chernin last week. Media reports further indicate that Disney is not interested in the acquisition.

    Hallmark Channel’s ad revenue was up 37 per cent to $33.6 million. The network also upped its subscriber fee revenue by 90 per cent year-over-year, to $4.6 million.

    The bids so far for Hallmark and its 71 million subscribers have ranged from $1.65 billion to $1.8 billion, which would also cover $886 million in debt. That means those offers would assign a value of only about $1 billion to the Hallmark network itself, a price some network insiders think is too low.

  • Diversity is the name of the game for Hallmark US

    MUMBAI: It may struggling in India to build up an audience but in the US the situation for Hallmark is different. The channel has announced several upcoming shows which are aimed to at catering to a wide range of viewers.

    One film that it will air in September is Supernova. This three-hour science fiction thriller deals with the day the earth caught fire and stars Luke Perry, Tia Carrere and Peter Fonda. Another upcoming movie is Landslide. This looks at an environmental disaster that has swallowed up a community and stars Vincent Spano, Alexandra Paul and Kathryne Dora Brown.

    Coronado tells the story of a missing wealthy businessman and the fiance who follows him off the map on a dangerous quest for his safe return. From the Oscar winning producers of Independence Day, Coronado premieres in October.

    As far as family drama is concerned the channel has The Reading Room up its sleeve. This tells the story of humanity, dignity and one man’s legacy. The Reading Room stars James Earl Jones and Joanna Cassidy.

    Making good on a promise he made to his dying wife, a widower played by Jones opens a reading room, a place where people can learn to read. Despite his goodwill, problems in the neighborhood threaten his establishment.

    Hallmark Channel had met members of the US Television Critics Association at this year’s summer press tour in Beverly Hills. The network presented its Fall Preview to the nation’s TV writers/editors/critics.

  • Hallmark US gets cult television series M*A*S*H

    Hallmark US gets cult television series M*A*S*H

    Hallmark Channel US has announced that one of television’s most recognisable shows “M*A*S*H” – will helicopter on to the channel in September 2003. The series will be cable exclusive to Hallmark Channel.

    All 255 episodes of the sitcom were acquired under the deal with Twentieth Television. Each of the 255 episodes has been digitally remastered, an official release informs. The deal also includes the two-and-a-half hour M*A*S*H finale, which is still the most watched telecast in television history.

    Executive V-P, programming, David Kenin said: ” This is a series that will continue to drive the growth of Hallmark Channel and can be utilised in multiple dayparts. During its 11-year run, ‘M*A*S*H’ aired in six different time periods on five different nights, and left the network ranked as the No. 1 sitcom on television. “

    For nine of its 11 seasons on broadcast television M*A*S*H was a top five sitcom. It has been nominated for or won 23 Emmy Awards, 16 Golden Globe Awards, four Humanitas Prizes and six People’s Choice Awards the release states.

    M*A*S*H influenced by the Robert Altman film was produced and distributed by Fox from its premiere on 17 September 1972 to its finale on 28 February 1983 the release states. Cast Members include Alan Alda, McLean Stevenson, Wayne Rogers Harry Morgan. Guest appearances during the 11-year run of “M*A*S*H include Richard Gere, Brian Dennehy and the Oscar winning director of ‘A Beautiful Mind’ Ron Howard.