HALLMARK CHANNEL ANNOUNCES FAN FAVORITE AND NETWORK'S MOST SOCIAL ORIGINAL SERIES OF ALL-TIME, "WHEN CALLS THE HEART," STARTS PRODUCTION ON SEASON THREE

Lori Loughlin, Erin Krakow, Daniel Lissing, Jack Wagner and Kristina Wagner Return to Star

Two-Hour Holiday Special to Premiere in December 2015

STUDIO CITY, CA -- September 28, 2015 - Production commences today in Vancouver on the third season of Hallmark Channel's sweeping frontier drama, "When Calls the Heart," which returns for a special two-hour television event this December. Following the December special, season three will premiere in February 2016.

"With universal themes of faith, hope and community, 'When Calls the Heart' captured the hearts of millions to become our most social series of all time," said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. "We are delighted that our viewers are as devoted to the show as we are, and can't wait to show them what's in store for Hope Valley next."

The enchanting romance, adventure and drama stars Lori Loughlin ("Fuller House," "90210"), Erin Krakow ("Army Wives"), Daniel Lissing ("Last Resort"), Jack Wagner ("The Bold and the Beautiful") and Kristina Wagner ("General Hospital"). "When Calls the Heart," which galvanized millions of fans and became a social phenomenon among the #Hearties, is based on the bestselling series of books by Janette Oke.

Hallmark Channel's Original Primetime Series "When Calls the Heart" is a Believe Pictures and Brad Krevoy Television production. Brad Krevoy, Tony Blake, Robin Bernheim, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., and Michael Shepard are executive producers. Eric Jarboe and Neill Fearnley are co-executive producers. Based on the novel by Janette Oke.

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 91 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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