PASADENA, CA – July 11, 2024 — Hallmark has announced the launch of Hallmark+, a new streaming service that promises to deliver an ad-free viewing experience along with exclusive retail and product benefits. Set to debut in mid-September, Hallmark+ aims to offer fans a comprehensive Hallmark lifestyle experience, bringing together the best of Hallmark in one place. This announcement was made during Hallmark Media’s session at the Summer 2024 Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, CA.
The transition from Hallmark Movies Now to Hallmark+ underscores Hallmark’s mission to help fans live their most caring and connected lives. With access to new original, heartwarming content and a new membership program, Hallmark+ allows members to be rewarded for both streaming and shopping at Hallmark Gold Crown Stores or online at Hallmark.com.
“Hallmark+ marks a seminal moment for Hallmark,” said Mike Perry, President & CEO of Hallmark. “By intertwining new, rich content experiences with tangible rewards and premium Hallmark gifts, we are delivering a unique, new program that reflects our commitment to spreading joy through our deeply beloved brand touchpoints.”
Hallmark+ will feature a diverse array of original titles designed to captivate both devoted fans and newcomers. New genres and formats debuting on the service include:
– Hallmark’s first-ever holiday limited series (Holidazed and Mistletoe Murders) and a reality competition series (Finding Mr. Christmas), bringing its seasonal content to the streaming space like never before.
– Unscripted, aspirational series with an emphasis on heart, home, and community featuring fan-favorite stars like Lacey Chabert (Celebrations with Lacey Chabert), Wes Brown (Ready, Set, Glow!), Ashley Williams (Small Town Setup), and Luke Macfarlane (Home is Where the Heart Is).
– An all-new movie trilogy (Groomsmen) inspired by the success of The Wedding Veil, spotlighting the friendship between three leading men played by Jonathan Bennett, Tyler Hynes, and B.J. Britt.
– An all-new scripted series adaptation of KJ Dell’Antonia’s New York Times bestselling novel and a Reese’s Book Club selection (The Chicken Sisters).
In addition to the immersive streaming experience, Hallmark+ members will enjoy a host of new, exclusive benefits and rewards. Membership perks include monthly $5 Hallmark Gold Crown Store coupons, free unlimited eCards, rewards for shopping, and surprise gifts. Priced at $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year, the membership package delivers a distinctive blend of entertainment and rewards, positioning Hallmark+ as the premier destination for Hallmark enthusiasts.
Hallmark Media is entertainment’s leading destination for feel-good content. The company operates three cable networks – Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, Hallmark Family, and Hallmark Movies Now, a subscription video on-demand streaming service. Hallmark Channel features an ambitious slate of new, original movies, scripted series, and the popular annual holiday franchise, Countdown to Christmas. Hallmark Mystery features a unique mix of movies and acquired series focused on the lighter side of the suspense and mystery genres, as well as its own seasonal programming event, Miracles of Christmas. Hallmark Family showcases timeless storytelling for the whole family centered around faith, love, and community. Hallmark Movies Now, the company’s subscription streaming service, offers commercial-free movies and series from Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery, and more, including exclusive content you can’t find anywhere else.
The health and safety of all cast, crew, and guests who are part of Crown Media productions are the top priority. As new information becomes available regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, production on the daytime lifestyle series, “Home & Family,” which films daily at Universal Studios, CA, has been suspended. The earliest a new episode could be taped is March 30, though no decision has been made about when production will resume. Encore episodes will air in the meantime, and the situation will be monitored with the CDC and state officials to determine the best time to return and produce new episodes of “Home & Family.” Crown Media is also temporarily suspending production on its original movies, which are shot in various locations in the US and around the world, and will continue to monitor the global situation with assistance from health officials. The production pauses are a proactive measure to safeguard all involved.
Crown Media Family Networks is the umbrella unit subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., housing cable’s leading family-friendly networks, Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama. Hallmark Channel features an ambitious slate of new, original content, including movies, scripted series, annual specials, and a daily, two-hour lifestyle show. Hallmark Channel is also home to the popular annual holiday franchise “Countdown to Christmas,” featuring a lineup of 24/7 holiday programming. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is a 24-hour cable network featuring a unique mix of new, original movies and acquired series focused on the lighter side of the suspense and mystery genres. The network also features its own annual holiday programming franchise, “Miracles of Christmas”. Hallmark Drama showcases the rich legacy of the Hallmark Hall of Fame library and with zero duplication, spotlights movies and series from Crown Media’s collection of original dramatic content. Crown Media Family Networks is also home to Hallmark Movies Now, the company’s subscription streaming service, which offers wholly distinct content from the company’s linear channels. Crown Media Family Networks’ publishing extension, Hallmark Publishing, creates novelizations of previously aired original movie favorites. It also accepts author submissions for original, on-brand manuscripts that can be greenlit as a new movie or series for one of the company’s three linear networks.
Hallmark Media made a series of big announcements during the 2024 TCA (Television Critics Association) Summer Press Tour. One of the biggest announcements was the launch of Hallmark+, a new streaming service featuring points and prizes based on viewers’ watching certain movies and films. One of the first shows on the new service will be a long-rumored Christmas series.
Hallmark Movies Now will be folded into the new service, Hallmark+ (or Hallmark Plus). The streaming service will also see a cost increase. While Movies Now plans start at $59.99 a year or $5.99 a month, the new plans will start at $79.99 a year or $7.99 a month. The new service will launch in mid-September, but a specific date hasn’t yet been announced.
There will be a “gamified” version of Hallmark+, with the opportunity to earn more rewards/points the more you watch. Those will translate into coupons for Hallmark stores. Members will also get monthly $5 coupons to the Hallmark Gold Crown Store, unlimited eCards, surprise gifts, and shopping rewards.
Hallmark CEO Mike Perry is optimistic about launching a new streaming service at a time when the entertainment industry is contracting and pulling back. He believes that if there is a network or brand that could be an exception, it would be Hallmark.
The new streaming service will also feature a limited Christmas series called “Holidazed.” The series will be about six families who come together for the holiday. Erin Cahill, Holland Roden, John C. McGinley, Ian Harding, and Dennis Haysbert will be among the stars. Rumors about “Holidazed” have been circulating for a while. Back in 2022, Hollywood North Buzz reported that the series was starting to film in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The series was directed by David Weaver, and at the time it was believed to be about five families (though now it’s six). The filming schedule was set for September 19 through December 12, 2022.
The streaming service will also feature reality shows. The app will include a number of unscripted reality series, including ones hosted by Lacey Chabert, Jonathan Bennett, Wes Brown, Ashley Williams, and Luke Macfarlane. Chabert’s series will honor real-life heroes and will be called “Celebrations with Lacey Chabert.” Brown’s series will travel to impressive festival displays, and Bennett’s will search for the next leading Hallmark man. Bennett joked in response to press questions that since he’s gay, the winner could be gay too, but he’s not going to spoil the ending. His series will be called “Finding Mr. Christmas.” Williams’ series will try to set up adult kids in small towns. Macfarlane’s will be about home renovations.
The new series “Chicken Sisters” will also premiere exclusively on Hallmark+. However, Hallmark Media representatives noted that productions that premiere as exclusives on Hallmark Plus will get secondary runs on linear cable too. Hallmark’s deal with Peacock will also not be affected by the new streaming service.
The announcement of Hallmark+ does not mean that TV programming is ending. Hallmark’s main focus will still be linear cable networks, and they’re planning 100 movies and series throughout the year, including 40 for Christmas.
Source: Variety, Hollywood North Buzz, IMDb, TV Guide
