HALLMARK CHANNEL DEBUTS PART ONE OF "KAREN KINGSBURY'S THE BRIDGE" DECEMBER 2015 IN COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS

Starring Katie Findlay, Wyatt Nash, Ted McGinley and Faith Ford

Based On The Book By #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Karen Kingsbury, Production Underway on Part Two, Set to Debut Holiday 2016

STUDIO CITY, CA - October 1, 2015 -- Hallmark Channel debuts the most anticipated novel adaptation of the season, Karen Kingsbury's The Bridge, based on New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury's beloved novel. The first installment of the contemporary romance debuts this December as part of Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas, with part two commencing production this week in Vancouver for an anticipated holiday 2016 debut. The Hallmark Channel original world premiere stars Katie Findlay ("How to Get Away with Murder"), Wyatt Nash ("Petals on the Wind"), Ted McGinley ("Hope and Faith") and Faith Ford ("Murphy Brown").

Karen Kingsbury's The Bridge is the sweeping tale of Molly Callens (Findlay) and Ryan Kelly (Nash), two young students who share a profound friendship their first semester in college, a time that becomes the defining moment of their lives. At their favorite bookstore and coffee shop, The Bridge, they spend countless hours studying and inspiring the other to dream their 10-year goal. They bond with the owners of The Bridge, Charlie (McGinley) and Donna Barton (Ford), a couple who designed the bookstore as a place where people can connect and be part of an extended family. Can Molly and Ryan's unspoken love and future dreams survive the expectations of others as to what their lives should ultimately be?

"Karen Kingsbury's story of second chances has touched millions of people, illustrating the power of love, forgiveness and grace," said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming and Publicity, Crown Media Family Networks. "The characters of 'The Bridge' are confronted with the same hard choices many people face daily, and they overcome the obstacles with empathy and love, an inspiring message this holiday season."

Karen Kingsbury is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, earning her the distinction of America's favorite inspirational novelist. With nearly 25 million copies of her award-winning books in print, Kingsbury's stories have resonated with readers worldwide. Her last dozen titles have hit #1 on national lists, including her recent Redemption series featuring Kingsbury's most unforgettable characters. Her novel The Bridge released in 2012 and debuted on the New York Times Bestsellers list. It has sold over 300,000 copies since the time of its release and is published by Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. Kingsbury is also a public speaker, reaching more than 100,000 women annually through various national events. Kingsbury lives in Nashville with her husband, Don, and has five sons, three of whom were adopted from Haiti, and an only daughter, Kelsey, an actress. She is represented by Rick Christian, President of Alive Literary Agency in Colorado Springs.

The screenplay for Karen Kingsbury's The Bridge is written by Jamie Pachino ("Franklin & Bash") and directed by Mike Rohl ("When Calls the Heart," "Smallville"). Emmy(R)-winning Executive Producers, reuniting their partnership after the success of "Door To Door" and "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story," Everywhere Studios' Dan Angel ("Christmas In Canaan," "Goosebumps," "The Haunting Hour") and David Rosemont (2013's "Bonnie and Clyde," "The Gabby Douglas Story") have partnered with Kim Arnott, President of Vancouver-based Two 4 the Money Media and Fernando Szew, CEO of MarVista Entertainment, for the two-part movie. Both installments will also premiere on Showcase in Canada.

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 90 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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