HALLMARK CHANNEL INKS DEAL WITH ITV AND CATHERINE BELL TO BRING BELL'S "THE GOOD WITCH" TO TV AS AN ALL-NEW ORIGINAL SCRIPTED SERIES SLATED TO AIR Q1 2015

Hallmark Channel announces it has inked a deal with ITV Studios America for the Original Scripted Series, "The Good Witch," starring Catherine Bell ("Army Wives," "The Good Witch") based on Bell's beloved character Cassie Nightingale, the raven-haired enchantress who kept audiences spellbound for six installments of the network's most successful movie franchise of all-time. A seventh film in the franchise, "The Good Witch's Wonder" premieres on Hallmark Channel on October 25 (9 p.m. ET/PT, 8C). Season one of the TV series, "The Good Witch" will have 10 episodes and begin filming in Canada with a Q1 2015 premiere.

In making the announcement, Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel said, "From the moment the first film in 'The Good Witch' series premiered, we knew audiences would fall in love with Catherine Bell and this character and want to see more of her. 'The Good Witch' franchise has consistently delivered top ratings with the airing of every film, and we expect the highly-anticipated TV series to deliver even more success.

"Our audience will be so excited to hear this news. Catherine has been one of the most sought after talents in our industry, and now she has a weekly home on Hallmark Channel," Vicary concluded.

"The Good Witch," is a Whizbang Films Production. Orly Adelson, Jonathan Eskenas, Frank Siracusa and Craig Pryce are the executive producers. Catherine Bell is co-executive producer. "The Good Witch" is based on characters created by Rod Spence.

ITV Studios America controls distribution rights in the world for "The Good Witch" outside of North America.

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 86 million subscribers. Hallmark Channel is the nation's leading destination for quality family programming with an ambitious slate of TV movies and specials; original scripted series, including Cedar Cove and When Calls the Heart; as well as some of television's most beloved sitcoms and series, such as The Golden Girls, The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, and Frasier. The channel is also home to a daytime lifestyle program, Home & Family, a daily two-hour live show shot in a fully functional house located on the Universal Studios lot. Hallmark Channel's sibling network, Hallmark Movie Channel, available in HD and SD, focuses on family-friendly movies with a mix of original films, classic theatrical releases, and presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library.

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