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This article is about the channel worldwide. For the U.S. Channel, see Hallmark Channel.
Hallmark Channel
FormerlyHallmark Entertainment Network, Inc.
Company typePrivate company
Founded1995; 29 years ago (1995)
FateMerged out
Successor Universal Networks International
ProductsCable channel
Brands
  • Diva TV
  • Hallmark Channel
  • Kermit Channel
  • Movies 24
Owners
Parent
Subsidiaries KidsCo (Joint venture)
Ownership
Sister channels
  • Diva TV
  • Kermit Channel (1998–2002)
  • KidsCo (2009–2011)
  • Movies 24 (2009–2011)
  • CNBC International (2007–2011)
  • Sci Fi Channel (2007–2011)
History
LaunchedJune 1995; 28 years ago (1995-06)
ClosedJuly 2011; 12 years ago (2011-07) [1]
Replaced by
Former namesHallmark Entertainment Network (1995–2001)
Website www.hallmarkchannelint.com

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. [2] The Benelux channel launched in June 1995. [3]

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. [2]

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. [2]

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. [4]

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, [5] the international Hallmark Entertainment Network soon did the same. [6]

Sparrowhawk Media

In 2005, Hallmark Entertainment put the Hallmark Channels up for sale, but with disappointing offers with drew the channels from the market. [7] The European media library rights [3] 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 [8] and also owned by David Elstein. [9] NBC Universal soon became the channels' major supplier. [3]

On July 1, 2006, Sparrowhawk Media launched Movies 24 free to air film channel on Sky with Dolphin Television as the ad sales company, [10] followed by its two-hour time shift More 24 on October 16, 2006. [11] The company, Corus Entertainment and DIC Entertainment announced in early April 2007 for a joint venture children's TV channel, KidsCo. [12]

NBC Universal agreed to purchased Sparrowhawk Media, international operator of Hallmark Channel, in August 2007. [8] There were 18 Hallmark Channels at this time. [13] The company had on its immediate schedule plans to launch KidsCo in September [14] and Diva TV channel in the UK [9] in October 23 with Movie24 Plus. [15] Sparrowhawk was merged into NBCU's global networks division. [8]

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. [1]

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 June 1995 [3] discontinued July 20, 2011 [1]
Latin America September 12, 1995 Studio Universal February 1, 2010 [19]
Africa October 6, 1995 [20] Universal Channel March 24, 2010 [21] [22]
Scandinavia (timeshared with Fox Kids/ Jetix) March 1, 1996 Disney XD August 31, 2009 [23]
Italy September 1, 1997 [24] Diva Universal April 1, 2011 [25]
Asia November 30, 1997 September 19, 2010 [26]
Spain December 15, 1997 [27] discontinued April 1, 2005 [28]
Romania April 1, 1998 [29] [30] Diva Universal September 21, 2010 [31]
Poland 13th Street Universal September 13, 2010 [32]
Hungary Universal Channel September 3, 2010 [33]
Czech Republic, Slovakia September 3, 2010 [34]
Australia April 1999 [35] July 1, 2010 [36]
Russia April 19, 1999 [37] Diva Universal September 17, 2010 [38]
United Kingdom February 2000 [39] Universal Channel October 18, 2010 [40]
HD: June 28, 2010 [41]
Turkey 2000 September 2010 [42]
Israel July 2000 [43] December 28, 2009 [44]
Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro August 1, 2001 September 3, 2010 [45]

Other channels

Channel Market Air date Replacement
brand/channel		 Replaced date
Kermit Asia September 1998 [2] discontinued December 2002
Latin America
Movies 24 UK July 1, 2006 [10]
More 24 UK October 16, 2006 [11]
Xmas Movies ( ITVX) UK November 2022-present

(Only at Xmas time)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Briel, Robert (June 3, 2011). "NBCUni stops Dutch Hallmark Channel". Broadband TV News. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "History of Crown Media Holdings, Inc.". International Directory of Company Histories. Volume 45. St. James Press. 2002. Retrieved December 27, 2017 – via FundingUniverse.
  3. ^ a b c d Chalaby, Jean K. (2009). Transnational Television in Europe: Reconfiguring Global Communications Networks. I.B.Tauris. p. 141. ISBN  9780857717474. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Kermit goes off the air; Hallmark, Modi Entertainment may launch family channel". Indian Television Dot Com. December 22, 2002. Archived from the original on July 12, 2001. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  5. ^ "History of Hallmark Cards, Inc.". International Directory of Company Histories. Volume 45. St. James Press. 2002. Retrieved December 28, 2017 – via FundingUniverse.
  6. ^ "Odyssey becomes Hallmark". DeseretNews.com. August 3, 2001. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  7. ^ Sims, James (July 14, 2006). "Milestone: Hallmark Channel at 5". The Hollywood Reporter. AP. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c Haycock, Gavin (28 August 2007). "NBC Universal agrees to buy Sparrowhawk Media". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  9. ^ a b Pfanner, Eric (31 August 2007). "NBC Universal buys 18 Hallmark channels outside the U.S." International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on August 31, 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Sparrowhawk Media launches Movies 24". Campaign UK. Haymarket Media Group Ltd. May 9, 2006. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Oatts, Joanne (October 6, 2006). "Movies 24 launches More 24". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  12. ^ "DIC spearheads kids' channel". Variety. 3 April 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  13. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (28 August 2007). "NBC Universal to buy Sparrowhawk Holdings for £174m". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  14. ^ Szalai, Georg (May 4, 2012). "NBCUniversal International Raises Stake in Children's Channel KidsCo". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  15. ^ "UKTV Drama timeshift added to VM lineup". Digital Spy. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  16. ^ "Hallmark Channel to Make Canadian Debut with W Network". TVCanada. Worldscreen. 2018-10-26. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  17. ^ "Hallmark Channel heads to Canada". C21 Media. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  18. ^ "The Hallmark Channel gets derided for its family-friendly fare, but its ratings are growing". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  19. ^ "Hallmark Channel a partir de Febrero es STUDIO UNIVERSAL". Real TV News (in Spanish). January 28, 2010. Archived from the original on November 27, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  20. ^ "Hallmark Channel | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  21. ^ "Africa gets re-branded Hallmark Channel first | Balancing Act – Africa". www.balancingact-africa.com. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  22. ^ "Hallmark to rebrand to Universal Channel". Bizcommunity. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  23. ^ Observatory, European Audiovisual. "TV Channel: Hallmark Entertainment Network (Scandilux)". MAVISE. European Audiovisual Observatory. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  24. ^ "TELE PIU' – la Repubblica.it". Archivio – la Repubblica.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  25. ^ Roffi, Mauro (2011-03-24). "Nasce Diva Universal". Millecanali (in Italian). Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  26. ^ "Diva Universal To Replace Hallmark". Media Research Asia.com. August 5, 2010. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  27. ^ "Hallmark links with Vía Digital". Variety. October 1997. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  28. ^ "Histórico de Canales Vodafone: 2005". Neeo | Todo sobre medios de comunicación en España (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  29. ^ "12 kanałów telewizyjnych, które zniknęły z Polski, ale na świecie nadal działają". wirtualnemedia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  30. ^ "Ingyenes filmcsatornák: nézünk, mint a moziban…". 2010-04-12. Archived from the original on 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
  31. ^ Alexandrescu, Adrian (2010-09-21). "Hallmark Channel devine Diva Universal". Strategic. Întreaga industrie de comunicare. Un singur portal. Archived from the original on 2018-01-09. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  32. ^ Dziadul, Chris (August 13, 2010). "Universal Networks channel change in Poland". Broadband TV News. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  33. ^ Attila, Kardos. "Hallmark helyett Universal Channel – sat-tv-radio". sat-tv-radio.hu. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
  34. ^ "TV Channel: Universal Channel (Czech)". mavise. European Audiovisual Observatory. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  35. ^ Joyce, James (April 26, 1999). "Tunedin". Newcastle Herald. p. 6. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  36. ^ Knox, David (28 May 2010). "Hallmark switch to Universal Channel". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  37. ^ "ТВ на тарелочке". kommersant.ru (in Russian). 1999-04-21. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  38. ^ Dziadul, Chris (June 11, 2010). "Hallmark to rebrand in Russia". Broadband TV News. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  39. ^ Shelton, Ed (October 8, 1999). "Media: Hallmark signs up to Sky to broach UK digital market". PR Week. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  40. ^ Laughlin, Andrew (2 September 2010). "Hallmark Channel to rebrand as Universal". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  41. ^ Wilkes, Neil (28 June 2010). "Hallmark Channel HD to launch tonight". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  42. ^ Observatory, European Audiovisual. "TV Channel: Universal Channel (Turkey)". MAVISE. European Audiovisual Observatory. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  43. ^ "Crown Media launches Hallmark in Israel". Screen Daily. Screen International. 25 July 2000. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  44. ^ Averbach, Li-Or (December 2, 2009). "Hallmark Channel to end Israel broadcasts". Globes English (in Hebrew). Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  45. ^ "TV Channel: Universal Channel (Croatia)". mavise. European Audiovisual Observatory. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
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