IF IT'S TIME FOR CHRISTMAS, IT'S TIME FOR HALLMARK CHANNEL!

AMERICA'S FAVORITE FAMILY NETWORK LAUNCHES ITS MOST ANTICIPATED SEASONAL EVENT, "COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS," BEGINNING NOVEMBER 12

Campaign Includes 14 Original Movies, Original Animated Specials, Holiday-Themed Episodes of Daytime Series, and the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade; 360-Degree Event for Viewers and Advertisers -On-Air, Online and in Social Media

At Hallmark Channel, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! During the holidays, there is not a more popular retail destination than Hallmark, and for family holiday entertainment, the most popular viewing destination on television is Hallmark Channel. Hallmark Channel announces its most highly anticipated seasonal event, "Countdown to Christmas," will commence on November 12. For those who cannot wait for Christmas, the network is whetting appetites with a sneak peek of its "Countdown to Christmas" campaign with the World Premiere of "Mistletoe Over Manhattan," a Hallmark Channel Original Movie starring Tricia Hefler and Greg Bryk on Sunday, November 6 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C). Before the holiday 2011 season ends, Hallmark Channel will air more than 1300-plus hours of holiday-themed programming, making it America's premier holiday destination on television. Hallmark Channel's programming slate includes 14 Hallmark Channel Original Movies and one-of-a-kind Hallmark Channel Original Animated Specials, like the first-ever, interactive entertainment program "Jingle All the Way," starring Hallmark's Jingle, the Husky Pup.(TM) The campaign also includes hours of holiday-themed programs in its daytime block, including episodes of "The Martha Stewart Show," "Emeril's Table," "Mad Hungry with Lucinda Scala Quinn" and "Martha Bakes," a Martha Stewart primetime original Christmas special, and the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade.

Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas" 2011 promises to be a 360-degree event for consumers and advertisers, beginning on-air with program scenes that honor the traditions of Christmas, which will be identified by downloadable QR codes, offering viewers second screen opportunities for extended content online, in social media and on mobile, while delivering ad-sponsored discounts and offers. "Hallmark Channel is committed to its continued ownership of holidays, particularly Christmas," said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel.

"It is association with a world-class brand, Hallmark - a brand consumers look to for emotional connection - that makes it possible for Hallmark Channel to extend that brand expectation into the kind of holiday entertainment that drew more than 75 million TV viewers to 'Countdown to Christmas' in 2010.

"There is no doubt that Hallmark Channel is the leader in holiday entertainment, and we look forward this year to offering viewers a more immersed content experience, on-air, online, on tablets and mobile, and in social media," Vicary concluded.

The program slate for "Countdown to Christmas" 2011 includes:

MISTLETOE OVER MANHATTAN, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, starring Tricia Hefler and Greg Bryk

Christmas isn't the same because people everywhere have lost the holiday spirit. When Santa considers retirement, Mrs. Claus sets out to find some Christmas spirit in the place she believes it still exists - New York City. She takes a job as a nanny for the children of a police officer and his wife who are in the middle of a divorce. With a little faith and some holiday magic, Mrs. Claus gets the couple back together just in time for Christmas and proves holiday spirit is alive and well.

ANGEL DUTY, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, starring TBA

After having been in a severe car accident, a high-power, successful event planner is put on "Angel Duty" as part of her last task on Earth before she can "pass over" to Heaven. She must help and guide a young restaurant owner, who is depressed because his restaurant is weeks away from shutting its doors. However, along the way, she comes to learn a lot more about herself and romance, more so than when she was actually alive.

CANCEL CHRISTMAS, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, starring Judd Nelson

Santa Claus discovers children have become too greedy in the world and must prove otherwise if he doesn't want his favorite holiday canceled. Santa's mission is to teach two incorrigible children the importance of charity. Enlisting their help to aid a handicapped boy inspires the magic of the holiday season, and the children's joy in giving ensures Christmas is going to better than ever this year.

JINGLE ALL THE WAY, a Hallmark Channel Original Animated Special, based on Hallmark's Jingle, the Husky Pup

A spirited Husky puppy looking for a home at a Christmas tree farm instantly bonds with a young boy visiting with his parents. As the boy rides away, unable to keep him, the pup escapes and embarks on a snowy journey to find his friend again. Guided by a wise cardinal and the sound of jingle bells, he eventually receives the help he needs from a big man in a red suit just in time for Christmas morning.

CHRISTMAS RETURNS TO CANAAN, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, starring Billy Ray

Cyrus in the sequel to Hallmark Channel's highly-rated "Christmas in Canaan" In this sequel to 2009's heartwarming story of a small Texas town breaking down racial barriers, the sweet Southern farming family returns. When the youngest son undergoes experimental surgery to help him walk again, his father falls in love with his beautiful rehabilitation doctor and invites her to spend Christmas at the farm. But as he struggles to incorporate her into his simple family life, he ends up pushing her away, and has to learn how to let himself find happiness again.

DEBBIE MACOMBER'S TRADING CHRISTMAS, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie based on the novel When Christmas Comes by Debbie Macomber, starring Faith Ford, Tom Cavanagh, Gil Bellows

Sparks fly as two unlikely couples meet in a cross-country house swap when a widowed schoolteacher from Washington State trades homes with a writer in Boston to surprise her daughter, a college student, for Christmas. But when she arrives, she is upset to learn her daughter flew to Phoenix with her new boyfriend. All alone for the holidays, she could never guess she's in for a holiday romance of her own - just as her best friend meets the handsome writer who's inhabited her home.

THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, starring Melissa Gilbert

After an overbearing New York City Broadway director gets fired from yet another production for her hot temper, her agent sends her upstate to direct a small town's annual Christmas pageant against her protests. There, she reconnects with an old flame and meets an interesting and lovable cast of characters who teach her there can be much more to life than her career.

A PRINCESS FOR CHRISTMAS, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, starring Sir Roger Moore and Katie McGrath

After her sister and brother-in-law's tragic death, an American woman who is the guardian for her young niece and nephew is invited to a royal European castle for Christmas by her late brother-in-law's father, the Duke of Castlebury. Feeling out of place as a commoner, she is determined to give her family a merry Christmas and surprises herself when she falls for a handsome prince

LUCKY CHRISTMAS, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, starring Elizabeth Berkley and Jason Gray-Stanford

When a single mom struggling to make ends meet finally wins the lottery, she is devastated to discover her car - with the lottery ticket inside - has been stolen. The accidental thief sees her story on the news and is convinced by his greedy friend to romance her in order to get a cut of the money. Finding himself having genuine feelings for her, he decides it is better to be lucky in love and tries to win her heart instead, just in time for Christmas.

ANNIE CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, starring Vivica A. Fox and Vicki Lawrence

Santa's daughter takes her first trip away from the North Pole during the Christmas season hoping to find adventure and love in sunny Los Angeles. She soon feels at home when she befriends her landlady and a local toyshop owner who is struggling to keep his business afloat during the holidays. But when Annie is duped into falling for a charming actor, she risks losing her family, friends and a shot at true love.

THE CASE FOR CHRISTMAS, a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, starring Dean Cain and Rachel Blanchard

Santa is in trouble - everyone is losing faith in him, and he's being sued for ruining Christmas. Young lawyer Michael Sherman takes Santa on as his client to defend him against wealthy businessman Braxton Bennett. When it comes out that the law suit is all for Braxton's own financial gain, Michael helps save Christmas and finds love along the way.

MARTHA STEWART'S HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE, a Hallmark Channel Original Special, starring Martha Stewart & Friends

Nobody does the holiday season like Martha Stewart. Christmas is, for her, the most enchanting and meaningful day of the year. "Martha Stewart's Holiday Open House" -- a nearly 30-year American tradition - airs this year for the first time on Hallmark Channel. Viewers get a chance to watch Stewart decorate her home, cook up a storm and welcome some very special friends to help her prepare for the big party.

'HOOPS & YOYO RUIN CHRISTMAS' - The pink kitty and green bunny team star in their first-ever half-hour Original Animated Special ('hoops&yoyo' come to cable home Hallmark Channel immediately following the broadcast on CBS)

When hoops&yoyo and piddles wait up to catch Santa in the act on Christmas Eve, potentially disastrous consequences follow. Will Christmas ever be the same? Will SANTA ever be the same? Only time (and this holiday special) will tell.

123RD TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE - Live from Pasadena, California. The prestigious classic celebrating the New Year is Monday, January 2 on Hallmark Channel.

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming available in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) to a national audience of 87.5 million subscribers. The top tier program service is distributed through more than 5,450 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country. Hallmark Channel is the nation's leading network in quality family programming with an ambitious slate of original TV movies, lifestyle and general entertainment content, and is the home of "The Martha Stewart Show", which anchors the channel's new daytime HOME block. Hallmark Channel's sibling network is Hallmark Movie Channel, also available in HD and SD, which focuses on the family-friendly movies with a mix of classic theatrical films, presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library, original Hallmark Channel movies and special events.