As of February 2015, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is available to approximately 55,827,000 pay television households (48% of households with television) in the United States.[1]
The Hallmark Movie Channel was launched in January 2004 as an outlet for additional movies and series available to the Hallmark Channel (HC) that the station did not have the airtime to run. Two series were initially picked up, withMagnum, P.I. available at launch andDiagnosis: Murder available in January 2005.[2] Crown Media shifted showing their Mystery Movie film series in 2008 from Hallmark Channel to this channel as they were having more success with lighter romances.[3][4] On April 2, 2008, the channel was switched over toHD format.[5]
AT&T U-verse dropped Hallmark Channel and sister channel Hallmark Movie Channel on September 1, 2010, due to a carriage dispute.[6] As of July 23, 2015, both channels have returned to U-verse.[7] In July 2012 during aretransmission consent dispute withHearst Television, the network was slotted byTime Warner Cable in place of Hearst's broadcast television stations as a 'free preview' and make-good for viewers until the dispute was settled.[8]
On March 14, 2014, Crown Media Holdings announced that Hallmark Movie Channel would be rebranded as Hallmark Movies & Mysteries in October 2014.[9] In rebranding, the company was trying to differentiate between the two channels, which feature different programming. With the new name, Hallmark reestablished a mystery wheel series under the name "Original Mystery Wheel" in 2015,[9] having previously had one on the Hallmark Channel from 2004 to 2008.[3][10]
After running several repeats of theJesse Stone films in 2015, the channel agreed to pick up the next two films in the series fromSony Pictures Television.[11] On Monday, November 11, 2015, Hallmark Movie Channel started its first "The Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas" seasonal programming.[12]
On July 28, 2017, it was reported that Crown Media would add a brand new cable network titled Hallmark Drama (nowHallmark Family), which launched on October 1, 2017, and a subscription video on demand streaming service titledHallmark Movies Now on October 3 of the same year.[13][14]
Two new development deals along with new installments of existing movie series were announced by the channel.Al Roker signed a deal for hisThe Midnight Show Murders: A Billy Blessing Novel andScandal inspirationJudy Smith, a crisis communications specialist, made a deal for the movieThe Adjuster.[15] AlthoughThe Adjuster never made it into production, in 2021, Smith was developing a new film titledRedemption in Cherry Springs.[16]
Hallmark Movie Channel logo, 2004–2014Hallmark Movies & Mysteries logo, 2014–2024
The first original movie to premiere on the channel wasSon of the Dragon on April 2, 2008, this was followed by a continuous stream of original movie premieres.[18] In July 2010, the channel began airing scripted television series to its schedule. Currently, these syndicated series mostly include mystery series and Hallmark Channel original series.
As a companion to Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas" event, the network also airs a large number ofChristmas-themed films during the later months of the year, branded as "Miracles of Christmas".[19]
"Miracles of Christmas", originally "The Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas" and later "The Most Wonderful Miracles of Christmas":[47] On November 11, 2013, Hallmark Movie Channel started its first "The Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas" seasonal programming[12] duplicating the main Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas". Included isA Very Happy Yule Log, aChristmas Eve/Christmas Day loop made up of ayule log presentation with Happy the Cat and Happy the Dog. In 2017, "A Happy Yule Log" was broadcast on November 22 (Thanksgiving Day), with abandoned piglet, Pip Squeak.[48]
In March 2009, the network announced that it was partnering with theNYUTisch School of the Arts’ Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and TV to showcase short films by the school's students and alumni. The shorts began airing in October, and were also available for viewing online at the network's website hallmarkmoviechannel.com.Alec Baldwin is aTisch alum who served as one of the judges to determine which films would appear on the network.[49][50]
