BETH STERN & JAMES DENTON TO CO-HOST 5TH ANNUAL AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION HERO DOG AWARDS(R) ON HALLMARK CHANNEL

ORIGINAL SPECIAL PREMIERES OCTOBER 30

Hallmark Channel is once again going to the dogs with the world premiere of the 5th Annual American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards on Saturday, October 30 (9pm ET/PT, 8C). TV personality, author, and animal advocate Beth Stern and television veteran James Denton (Good Witch, Desperate Housewives) will return as co-hosts of the program, which tapes September 19th before a live audience at the historic Beverly Hilton Hotel.

"The Hero Dog Awards is a truly special program and I look forward to returning as co-host for the second year in a row," said James Denton. "It is a great honor to have the opportunity to join Hallmark Channel and American Humane Association in raising the profile of these dogs and giving them the recognition they so deserve."

"Co-hosting last year's Hero Dog Awards was such a rewarding experience and I'm excited to be back again and to honor the 2015 finalists," said Beth Stern. "This is one of the most unique and inspirational awards shows out there and I am grateful to be a part of it and to have the opportunity to meet these amazing dogs and their handlers."

"So much of what dogs do on our behalf goes unrecognized and this special program allows us to bring their incredible stories of bravery, devotion, and unconditional love to light," said Michelle Vicary, EVP, Programming & Network Publicity "Beth and James are deeply passionate animal lovers and we are excited to welcome them back as co-hosts of the 2015 Hero Dog Awards."

The Hero Dog Awards, presented for the past four years by the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation, is a moving celebration of our four-legged friends and the innumerable ways they enrich, protect, and save lives every day. Each year, the program salutes 8 special dogs - one in each of eight categories - chosen in a nationwide online vote. The 8 finalists and their human handlers are flown to Los Angeles where they are honored at a red carpet, star-studded awards gala. The evening is capped off with the announcement of the top American Hero Dog of the year. The two-hour special airs in conjunction with Hallmark Channel's Pet Project, the network's on- and off-air campaign designed to celebrate the joy pets bring to our lives, while shining a spotlight on shelter animals and encouraging the public to adopt.

"We are thrilled to have our dynamic hosting duo back for this year's Hero Dog Awards," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane Association. "Their signature warmth and passion for animals makes them the perfect hosts for this heartwarming tribute to mankind's best friends."

"Once a year, America salutes the best and bravest of our nation's canine heroes, and we are happy to have the best and brightest hosts to lead our tribute," said Lois Pope. "We are grateful to Beth Stern and James Denton for once again lending their starpower to shine a light on the valor of these remarkable animals. On behalf of all of America's hero dogs, thank you!"

For more information on the Hero Dog Awards or to vote for this year's American Hero Dog, visit www.herodogawards.org.

ABOUT HALLMARK CHANNEL

Hallmark Channel is Crown Media Family Networks' flagship 24-hour cable television network, distributed nationwide in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) to 84 million homes. The country's leading destination for quality family entertainment, Hallmark Channel delivers on the 100-year legacy of the Hallmark brand. In addition to its signature original movies, the network features an ambitious lineup of other original content, including scripted primetime series, such as Cedar Cove, Good Witch, and When Calls the Heart; annual specials like Kitten Bowl and Hero Dog Awards and; a daily 2-hour lifestyle show, Home & Family. Additionally, in November 2014, Hallmark Channel became the exclusive home to world premiere presentations of the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame franchise. Dedicated to helping viewers celebrate life's special moments, Hallmark Channel also offers such annual holiday programming events as Countdown to Christmas and Countdown to Valentine's Day. Rounding out the network's diverse slate are television's most beloved sitcoms and series, including The Golden Girls, The Middle, Little House on the Prairie, and Frasier. Complementing Hallmark Channel's light-hearted and comedic fare, sibling network Hallmark Movies & Mysteries presents a unique mix of content that is more dramatic in tone, including original movies and such acquired series Matlock, Murder She Wrote, and Hart to Hart. Crown Media Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWN), owns and operates Crown Media Family Networks.

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ABOUT HALLMARK CHANNEL'S PET PROJECT

Hallmark Channel's Pet Project is a cross platform on-and off-air campaign devoted to celebrating the joy and enrichment pets bring to our lives, while raising awareness of this country's epidemic of pet homelessness and promoting adoption. The campaign's programming elements include annual specials like Hero Dog Awards, Kitten Bowl, and Paw Star Game, as well as original movies like Puppy Love and My Boyfriends' Dogs that convey pet adoption messages. In addition, Hallmark Channel's Pet Project features social media outreach, a resource-rich website, and grass roots pet adoption initiatives. Leveraging its digital, social, and linear platforms, Hallmark Channel's Pet Project also partners with such national non-profit organizations as American Humane Association, North Shore Animal League America, and Best Friends Animal Society, to inform the public about the many wonderful animals in shelters across the country and ultimately inspire them to adopt their next pet. For more information, please visit http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/petproject

ABOUT AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION

American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.