Hallmark Channel (international) explained

Hallmark Channel
Former Name:Hallmark Entertainment Network, Inc.
Type:Private company
Fate:Merged out
Successor:Universal Networks International
Products:Cable channel
Subsid:KidsCo (Joint venture)
Module:
Child:yes
Former Names:Hallmark Entertainment Network (1995–2001)

Hallmark Channel, formerly Hallmark Entertainment Network, in international markets was owned by several media companies. Over their history, the various channels were operated by Hallmark Entertainment Networks, Inc. (1995–2005), Sparrowhawk Media, Limited (2005–2007) and Universal Networks International (2007–2011). Universal Networks International rebranded or discontinued the channels by July 2011. Hallmark Entertainment Networks, Inc. was owned by Crown Media Holdings, Inc. Sparrowhawk Media was owned by venture capital companies and Universal Networks International is owned by NBCUniversal.

History

Hallmark Entertainment Network

Crown Media thus shifted directions in 1994 with the sale of the cable systems. Also that year, Hallmark Cards purchased RHI Entertainment for $365 million getting a 1,800 plus hours film library then formed Hallmark Entertainment as RHI's parent corporation. Hallmark Entertainment then formed Hallmark Entertainment Network, Inc. in mid-1995 to start the Hallmark Entertainment Network (HEN) pay TV channel in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The company waited to start a domestic channel due to lack of carriage space and its programming domestic rights were held by others.[1] The Benelux channel launched in June 1995.[2]

Hallmark Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company started a partnership in May 1998 to launch the Kermit Channel in Asia and Latin America expect to start in September 1998 with distribution handled by Hallmark Entertainment Network. The HEN channels had internationally about six million subscribers at this time.[1]

Crown Media was reformed into Crown Media Holdings, Inc. in 2000 as part of a re-organizational plan that included the company going public. Crown Media Holdings was formed as a subsidiary of Hallmark Entertainment (Hallmark). Hallmark transferred Hallmark Entertainment Network, Inc. and its interest in the Odyssey Network into Crown Media Holdings. While its channels had 50 million subscribers at the IPO, the company had not made a profit yet with Hallmark Entertainment Network, Inc. losing $35.5 million in 1998 on revenue of $23.7 million, and in 1999 it lost $56.7 million on revenue of $31.9 million.[1]

EM.TV had Henson Company withdrawal from the Kermit Channel partnership with Crown Media. In November 2001, Kermit Channel Asia except for in India was shut down while Kermit blocks remained on the Asian HEN. The channel was discontinued in India in December 2001.[3]

When Crown took control of and renamed the Odyssey Network channel to the Hallmark Channel in August 2001 with plans to quickly add original programming,[4] the international Hallmark Entertainment Network soon did the same.[5]

Sparrowhawk Media

In 2005, Hallmark Entertainment put the Hallmark Channels up for sale, but with disappointing offers with drew the channels from the market.[6] The European media library rights[2] and Hallmark Channels in international markets were sold for about $242 million in 2005 to Sparrowhawk Media, a private group backed by Providence Equity Partners and 3i[7] and also owned by David Elstein.[8] NBC Universal soon became the channels' major supplier.[2]

On July 1, 2006, Sparrowhawk Media launched Movies 24 free to air film channel on Sky with Dolphin Television as the ad sales company,[9] followed by its two-hour time shift More 24 on October 16, 2006.[10] The company, Corus Entertainment and DIC Entertainment announced in early April 2007 for a joint venture children's TV channel, KidsCo.[11]

NBC Universal agreed to purchased Sparrowhawk Media, international operator of Hallmark Channel, in August 2007. There were 18 Hallmark Channels at this time.[12] The company had on its immediate schedule plans to launch KidsCo in September[13] and Diva TV channel in the UK[8] in October 23 with Movie24 Plus.[14] Sparrowhawk was merged into NBCU's global networks division.

In July 2011, Universal Networks International's rights to the Hallmark Channel brand ended; the networks were either shut down, or rebranded as Diva Universal, Studio Universal, 13th Street Universal or Universal Channel.[15]

Canadian content deal

In October 2018, the Canadian women's entertainment channel W Network (owned by Corus Entertainment) announced that it had acquired exclusive rights to Hallmark Channel's original programming library, beginning in November for the Countdown to Christmas event. Hallmark Channel content and localised versions of its seasonal programming blocks will be aired alongside W Network's existing programming.[16] [17] Hallmark Channel films and series were previously acquired individually by W and other Canadian channels; much of this programming is filmed in Canada.[18]

Hallmark channels

Market Hallmark Channel
rebranding or launch		Replacement
brand/channel		Replaced date
Benelux discontinued
Latin America Studio Universal[19]
AfricaOctober 6, 1995[20] Universal ChannelMarch 24, 2010[21] [22]
Scandinavia (timeshared with Fox Kids/Jetix) Disney XD[23]
Italy [24] Diva Universal[25]
Asia [26]
SpainDecember 15, 1997[27] discontinuedApril 1, 2005[28]
Romania April 1, 1998[29] [30] Diva Universal[31]
Poland 13th Street Universal[32]
HungaryUniversal ChannelSeptember 3, 2010[33]
Czech Republic, Slovakia [34]
Australia [35] [36]
Russia[37] Diva Universal[38]
United Kingdom[39] Universal Channel[40]
HD: [41]
Turkey [42]
Israel [43] [44]
Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro August 1, 2001[45]

Other channels

Channel Market Air date Replacement
brand/channel 		Replaced date
Asia discontinued
Latin America
UK July 1, 2006
More 24 UK October 16, 2006
Xmas Movies (ITVX) UK November 2022-present(Only at Xmas time)

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: International Directory of Company Histories. Volume 45.. 2002. St. James Press . FundingUniverse. December 27, 2017. en. History of Crown Media Holdings, Inc..
  2. Book: Chalaby. Jean K.. Transnational Television in Europe: Reconfiguring Global Communications Networks . 2009 . I.B.Tauris . 9780857717474 . 141 . 28 December 2017. en.
  3. News: December 22, 2002 . Kermit goes off the air; Hallmark, Modi Entertainment may launch family channel . Indian Television Dot Com . January 8, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010712143601/http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/dec2k/dec28.htm . July 12, 2001.
  4. Book: International Directory of Company Histories. Volume 45.. 2002. St. James Press . FundingUniverse. December 28, 2017. en. History of Hallmark Cards, Inc..
  5. News: August 3, 2001 . Odyssey becomes Hallmark . en . DeseretNews.com . January 8, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180109121820/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/856505/Odyssey-becomes-Hallmark.html . January 9, 2018.
  6. News: Sims. James. Milestone: Hallmark Channel at 5 . December 27, 2017 . The Hollywood Reporter . AP . July 14, 2006 . en.
  7. News: Gavin . Haycock. NBC Universal agrees to buy Sparrowhawk Media . Reuters . 2008-09-26 . 28 August 2007.
  8. News: Pfanner. Eric. NBC Universal buys 18 Hallmark channels outside the U.S.. 28 December 2017. International Herald Tribune. 31 August 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070831044727/http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/28/business/nbc.php. August 31, 2007 .
  9. News: Sparrowhawk Media launches Movies 24. December 28, 2017. Campaign UK. Haymarket Media Group Ltd.. May 9, 2006.
  10. News: Oatts. Joanne. Movies 24 launches More 24. January 8, 2018. Digital Spy. October 6, 2006. en.
  11. News: DIC spearheads kids' channel. 28 December 2017. Variety. 3 April 2007.
  12. News: Holmwood. Leigh. NBC Universal to buy Sparrowhawk Holdings for £174m. 28 December 2017. The Guardian. 28 August 2007.
  13. News: Szalai. Georg. NBCUniversal International Raises Stake in Children's Channel KidsCo. December 28, 2017. The Hollywood Reporter. May 4, 2012. en.
  14. News: UKTV Drama timeshift added to VM lineup. 28 December 2017. Digital Spy. 23 October 2007. en.
  15. News: Briel. Robert. NBCUni stops Dutch Hallmark Channel. December 28, 2017. Broadband TV News. June 3, 2011.
  16. News: Hallmark Channel to Make Canadian Debut with W Network. 2018-10-26. TVCanada. Worldscreen. 2018-11-14. en-US.
  17. Web site: Hallmark Channel heads to Canada. C21 Media. November 13, 2018.
  18. News: The Hallmark Channel gets derided for its family-friendly fare, but its ratings are growing. Toronto Star. 2018-11-14. en.
  19. News: Hallmark Channel a partir de Febrero es STUDIO UNIVERSAL. May 19, 2018. Real TV News. January 28, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20171127063506/http://www.realtvnews.com.ar/new/noticias.php?id=4750. November 27, 2017. es.
  20. Web site: Hallmark Channel TVSA . 2023-04-07 . www.tvsa.co.za.
  21. Web site: Africa gets re-branded Hallmark Channel first Balancing Act – Africa . 2023-01-23 . www.balancingact-africa.com .
  22. Web site: Hallmark to rebrand to Universal Channel . 2023-01-23 . Bizcommunity . en.
  23. Web site: Observatory . European Audiovisual . TV Channel: Hallmark Entertainment Network (Scandilux) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180726233858/http://mavise.obs.coe.int/channel?id=1074 . July 26, 2018 . July 26, 2018 . MAVISE . European Audiovisual Observatory.
  24. Web site: TELE PIU' – la Repubblica.it . 2023-01-02 . Archivio – la Repubblica.it . it.
  25. Web site: Roffi . Mauro . 2011-03-24 . Nasce Diva Universal . 28 December 2017 . Millecanali . it-IT.
  26. News: Diva Universal To Replace Hallmark. January 5, 2018. Media Research Asia.com. August 5, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20180109063922/http://www.mediaresearchasia.com/view2.php?type=press&id=1068. January 9, 2018. dead.
  27. Web site: Hallmark links with Vía Digital . 2023-01-31 . Variety . October 1997 . en.
  28. Web site: Histórico de Canales Vodafone: 2005 . 2023-01-07 . Neeo Todo sobre medios de comunicación en España . es.
  29. Web site: 12 kanałów telewizyjnych, które zniknęły z Polski, ale na świecie nadal działają . 2023-01-02 . wirtualnemedia.pl . pl.
  30. Web site: Ingyenes filmcsatornák: nézünk, mint a moziban…. https://web.archive.org/web/20100412161049/http://orszaginfo.hu/lazito/mozi-film/745-ingyenes-filmcsatornak-nezunk-mint-a-moziban. dead. 2010-04-12. 2010-04-12. 2019-07-14.
  31. Web site: Alexandrescu . Adrian . 2010-09-21 . Hallmark Channel devine Diva Universal . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180109063728/http://www.strategic.ro/publicitate/hallmark-channel-devine-diva-universal.html . 2018-01-09 . 2018-01-09 . Strategic. Întreaga industrie de comunicare. Un singur portal.
  32. News: Chris . Dziadul. Universal Networks channel change in Poland. January 8, 2018. Broadband TV News. August 13, 2010.
  33. Web site: Hallmark helyett Universal Channel – sat-tv-radio. Attila. Kardos. sat-tv-radio.hu. 2019-07-14.
  34. Web site: TV Channel: Universal Channel (Czech) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180726233823/http://mavise.obs.coe.int/channel?id=404 . July 26, 2018 . July 26, 2018 . mavise . European Audiovisual Observatory.
  35. News: Joyce. James. Tunedin. January 5, 2018. Newcastle Herald . April 26, 1999 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120403164456/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news990327_0075_2711 . April 3, 2012. 6.
  36. News: Knox. David. Hallmark switch to Universal Channel. 5 January 2018. TV Tonight. 28 May 2010. en-AU.
  37. Web site: 1999-04-21 . ТВ на тарелочке . 2023-01-23 . kommersant.ru . ru.
  38. News: Chris . Dziadul. Hallmark to rebrand in Russia. January 8, 2018. Broadband TV News. June 11, 2010.
  39. News: Shelton . Ed. Media: Hallmark signs up to Sky to broach UK digital market. 28 December 2017. PR Week. October 8, 1999.
  40. News: Laughlin. Andrew. Hallmark Channel to rebrand as Universal. 28 December 2017. Digital Spy. 2 September 2010. en.
  41. News: Wilkes. Neil. Hallmark Channel HD to launch tonight. 28 December 2017. Digital Spy. 28 June 2010. en.
  42. Web site: Observatory . European Audiovisual . TV Channel: Universal Channel (Turkey) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180726201704/http://mavise.obs.coe.int/channel?id=12125 . July 26, 2018 . July 26, 2018 . MAVISE . European Audiovisual Observatory.
  43. News: 25 July 2000 . Crown Media launches Hallmark in Israel . en . Screen Daily . Screen International . 28 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141029091603/https://www.screendaily.com/crown-media-launches-hallmark-in-israel/403092.article . October 29, 2014.
  44. News: Averbach. Li-Or. Hallmark Channel to end Israel broadcasts. January 8, 2018. Globes English. December 2, 2009. he.
  45. Web site: TV Channel: Universal Channel (Croatia) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180726233847/http://mavise.obs.coe.int/channel?id=9222 . July 26, 2018 . July 26, 2018 . mavise . European Audiovisual Observatory.

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