"CEDAR COVE," A HALLMARK CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIE STARRING ANDIE MACDOWELL AND DYLAN NEAL, PREMIERES ON THE NETWORK Q1 2013

Movie is Two-Hour Pilot for Hallmark Channel's First-Ever Primetime Series; Based on the Book Series Cedar Cove by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Debbie Macomber

The Hallmark Channel Original Movie, "Cedar Cove," a two-hour pilot for the network's first-ever primetime series, premieres exclusively on the network Q1 2013. "Cedar Cove" stars internationally acclaimed film and TV star Andie MacDowell and Dylan Neal, and is based on the bestselling book series Cedar Cove by #1 New York Times bestselling author, Debbie Macomber. Macomber's past books-to-television movies were each #1 when they originally premiered on the network. The films "Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle," "Debbie Macomber's Call Me Mrs. Miracle" and "Debbie Macomber's Trading Christmas" premiered in Holiday 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively.

In "Cedar Cove," MacDowell plays Judge Olivia Lockhart whose Cedar Cove Municipal Court is the professional milieu and social microcosm of issues the judge will face in her own day-to-day life with family and friends. Neal plays Jack Griffith, the new editor of the Cedar Cove Chronicle, and budding love interest for Judge Lockhart.

In the first two-hour installment, Judge Lockhart is overjoyed to hear that her name is being put forth for appointment to a Federal judgeship in Seattle by her longtime friend, Senator Pete Albertson. Olivia asks that her family keep the news a secret. In the meantime, Jack Griffith, desperate for a meaningful news story, corners Olivia's mother who inadvertently tells the editor about everything in her daughter's life - including the possible appointment. Suddenly, Olivia (much to her chagrin) is front page news. In the courtroom, Olivia rejects Cecelia and Ian's petition for divorce, because she is convinced the young couple still loves each other. In the meantime, Olivia's feelings about daughter Justine's suitor couldn't be colder.

MacDowell first received critical acclaim as the repressed young wife in Steven Soderbergh's "sex, lies and videotape," which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, and also earned Ms. MacDowell the Independent Spirit Award and the Los Angeles Film Critics Award for Best Actress. MacDowell also received her first Golden Globe(R) nomination from that film, as well as, multiple honors from film societies around the globe.

MacDowell went on to earn the worldwide title of #1 Female Box-Office Draw with her performance in the smash hit comedy, "Four Weddings and a Funeral," earning her a second Golden Globe nomination. She also starred in the perennial holiday classic, "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray, "Green Card" with Gerard Depardieu, "Multiplicity" with Michael Keaton, and "Michael" with John Travolta.

MacDowell's dramatic work includes the Wim Wenders directed film, "The End of Violence," Robert Altman's "The Player" and "Short Cuts," the Diane Keaton directed "Unstrung Heroes" (for which the cast won a Golden Globe(R)), and the evergreen hit, "St. Elmo's Fire." She was recently seen on the big screen in "Footloose," "The Fifth Quarter" and "Monte Carlo."

On television, MacDowell also earned praise for the HBO Emmy(R) -nominated film, "Dinner with Friends" and the beloved Hallmark Hall of Fame telefilm, "Riding the Bus with My Sister," starring opposite Rosie O'Donnell. MacDowell currently stars in the ABC Family series, "Jane By Design" and is celebrating 25 years of partnership with L'Oreal Paris as an international spokesperson for the brand.

With more than 150 million copies of her books in print worldwide, Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of romance and women's fiction. Four Macomber novels have become made-for-TV movies, including the three #1-rated Hallmark Channel Original Films ("Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle," "Debbie Macomber's Call Me Mrs. Miracle," and "Debbie Macomber's Trading Christmas"). Macomber was the inaugural winner of the fan-voted Quill Award for romance in 2005. She has been awarded a RITA(R), romance publishing's "Oscar," and the 2010 Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award by the Romance Writers of America. Ms. Macomber makes her home in Port Orchard, WA, with her husband Wayne, children and grandchildren. Port Orchard is the inspiration for the town, Cedar Cove, and the fictional location of Hallmark Channel's new series.

Dylan Neal is perhaps best known for playing Dylan Shaw on "The Bold and the Beautiful," for playing Doug Witter on "Dawson's Creek," and for his starring role as Detective Mike Celluci in the popular supernatural drama series "Blood Ties." He is also recognizable for playing Aaron Jacobs on "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch."

"Cedar Cove" is an Orchard Road Productions Ltd. film. The movie pilot is written by Bruce Graham ("Debbie Macomber's Trading Christmas"). Mr. Graham adapted the material from Debbie Macomber's series of books, Cedar Cove. Executive Producers are Debbie Macomber, Dan Wigutow, Caroline Moore, Harvey Kahn, Michael M. Scott and Allen Lewis. Michael M. Scott directed "Cedar Cove," the movie.

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 over 87 million subscribers. The top-tier program service is distributed through approximately 5,500 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country. Hallmark Channel is the nation's leading destination for quality family programming with an ambitious slate of original TV movies and specials, as well as some of television's most beloved sitcoms and series, including The Golden Girls, Frasier, Little House on the Prairie, and The Waltons. Since 2010, Hallmark Channel has also been home to original daytime lifestyle programming and is debuting two new daily series, Home & Family and Marie, on October 1, 2012. Hallmark Channel's sibling network is Hallmark Movie Channel, also available in HD and SD, which focuses on 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.