The Hallmark Hall of Fame has found a pair of new homes.
The venerable franchise, which has earned 79 Emmys and 11 Peabodys, among other awards, has signed a multiyear deal with ABC to premiere the movies, which will then encore on Hallmark Channel, a week later. The cable channel will show in the movies in four-run burst over that span.
During its 60-year history, the Hallmark Hall of Fame has been broadcast on ABC, NBC, and most recently CBS.
First up on its new watch on ABC: Have a Little Faith, based on Mitch Albom's best-selling book, for which he also penned the screenplay. The telefilm, a Michigan-based project by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, will star Laurence Fishburne, Bradley Whitford and Martin Landau.
As part of the pact, financial terms of which were not disclosed, ABC and Hallmark Channel will cross-promote this and subsequent telefilms.
"We're delighted our movies will premiere exclusively on ABC starting with our 61st television season," said Brad Moore, president, Hallmark Hall of Fame in a statement."Since our very first talks with ABC last year we've looked forward to this announcement. Our agreement to follow ABC premieres with encores on Hallmark Channel is an exciting, unprecedented use of broadcast and cable."
Noted Crown Media Networks president Bill Abbott: "A week after the Hallmark Hall of Fame network premiere on ABC, Hallmark Channel will air four encore broadcasts over a week-long period. This will bring even more exceptional, high-profile programming to our audience, and increase the viewership and impact of the Hallmark Hall of Fame series. We're delighted to be a partner."
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