ON THE 12TH "COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS" HALLMARK GAVE TO ME... 41 ALL-NEW, ORIGINAL HOLIDAY MOVIE PREMIERES STARTING OCTOBER 22

All New Movies Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8 pm on Hallmark Channel All New Movies Every Saturday at 10 pm on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Eight Hours of New Original Holiday Content Every Week Available Across Hallmark Destinations!

Authentic Hallmark Channel Gifts, New Offerings from Hallmark Publishing and Tasty Treats to Sip and Nibble During the Season Make the Holiday Experience Even More Merry and Bright

STUDIO CITY, CA - September 22, 2021 - Crown Media Family Networks celebrates 12 years of Christmas with the biggest and brightest holiday season yet. It is so big we plan to unwrap it over the next few weeks revealing all 41 original premieres. Hallmark Christmas movies are the pop culture phenomenon that have transcended beyond the screen to become a beloved holiday experience. The gift of 24/7 yuletide programming launches Friday, October 22 with Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas" and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries' "Miracles of Christmas" programming events. Also beginning October 22 is "Movies & Mistletoe" on Hallmark Movies Now, the company's stand-alone streaming service. For the first time ever, this service will feature an all-new Christmas movie premiere.

As families and friends come together and reconnect during holiday gatherings, Hallmark Channel is hosting on-screen reunions of cast members from iconic television series and films. Candace Cameron Bure and John Brotherton ("Fuller House"); Danica McKellar and Jason Hervey ("The Wonder Years"); Lea Thompson and Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future) team up again for an all-new time travel tale.

The networks' family of stars return, including Candace Cameron Bure, Lacey Chabert, Holly Robinson Peete, Danica McKellar, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Janel Parrish, Robert Buckley, Jonathan Bennett, Lea Thompson, Ryan Paevey and Alison Sweeney. Real life sisters Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Ashley Williams play sisters on screen and star in two different interconnected movies premiering only on Hallmark Channel.

And, the network welcomes incredibly talented new actors to the Hallmark family, including Jordin Sparks, Ashleigh Murray, Loretta Devine, Luke James, Destiny's Child's Michelle Williams, Basil Wallace, Lyndsy Fonseca, Chandler Massey, Christopher Lloyd, Katee Sackhoff, Patrick Sabongui and Terry O'Quinn.

More exciting stars joining the Hallmark family during the holiday season are Caroline Rhea, Stuart Townsend, Lyriq Bent, Nik Sanchez, Brittany Ishibashi, Jason Hervey, Joe Pantoliano, John Brotherton, Catherine Haena Kim, Raymond Ablack and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee.

In addition to brand new original titles, this year's lineup includes all new installments of continuing movie franchises. On Hallmark Channel, "The Nine Kittens of Christmas" is the follow-up to the beloved 2014 movie "The Nine Lives of Christmas," with original stars Kimberley Sustad, Brandon Routh and Gregory Harrison returning. Last year viewers were introduced to the Mitchell family in "The Christmas House" and they'll be able to see their journey continue with "The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls" (wt) featuring Robert Buckley, Ana Ayora, Treat Williams, Sharon Lawrence, Jonathan Bennett and Brad Harder reprising their roles. Hallmark Movies & Mysteries brings viewers new movies from executive producers including Kathie Lee Gifford and Blake Shelton. "Debbie Macomber's a Mrs. Miracle Christmas" continues the networks relationship with the prolific author and her cherished character and will star Kaitlin Doubleday, Steve Lund and Caroline Rhea.

Crown Media's holiday movies go beyond the screen creating a full experience for viewers accompanied by its ever-popular brand extensions and partnerships which invite fans to live the Hallmark Channel lifestyle of their dreams. The bestselling Hallmark Channel Wines "Jingle" and "Joy" are the perfect pairing with the network's holiday movies, available in-store and on HallmarkChannelWines.com. Viewers can also join the Hallmark Channel Wine Club to receive quarterly shipments of exclusive wines plus exciting member benefits. The Republic of Tea is reprising its premium "Countdown to Christmas" holiday tea tins and advent calendar, which feature two unique, seasonal tea packets per day for each of the 12 days leading up to Christmas. The popular "Countdown to Christmas" chocolate advent calendar from Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier is also returning this season, featuring 25 foil-wrapped milk chocolate caramel presents to enjoy while counting down to Christmas.

Hallmark Gold Crown stores and Hallmark.com will offer all-new products from its exclusive line of authentic Hallmark Channel gifts to help ring in the season, from apparel and housewares to décor and games. For readers and Hallmark enthusiasts everywhere, Hallmark Publishing proudly presents new Christmas books coming this holiday season, including On Christmas Avenue by New York Times bestselling author Ginny Baird on September 21, Mistletoe in Juneau by Dahlia Rose on October 19, Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope by Janice Lynn on October 26, and Christmas in Evergreen: Bells are Ringing by Lacey Baker on November 2.

Year-round, Crown Media's Hallmark Movie Checklist App serves as the ultimate Hallmark viewing guide, giving users the ability to set reminders, watch trailers, and stay in tune with Hallmark's linear schedule. Just in time for the holidays, the app has launched all-new special features including the Countdown to Christmas Widget on users' home screens, allowing them to countdown to the beginning of "Countdown to Christmas" on Hallmark Channel and after that, to Christmas Day. When tapped, it takes users directly to the Checklist App on their Android and iOS devices. The app also launched an Upcoming Widget, allowing fans to view upcoming programming and mark "Favorite" and "Want to Watch" titles.

Over at HallmarkChannel.com, the go-to destination for all must-know information and engaging features related to "Countdown to Christmas," the site will again host two of its most popular sweepstakes. Hallmark Channel's Very Merry Giveaway Sweepstakes will feature the return of 'win one, share one' with each winner receiving a second matching prize to share with a loved one, friend or someone in need. Prizes include a curated list of festive holiday items given away daily for over 60 days with a final Grand Prize of $10,000 for the winner and $10,000 for the winner to share! Hallmark Channel's Holiday Home Decoration Sweepstakes will also return, giving users the opportunity to virtually design the ultimate holiday room alongside a chance to win weekly prizes and a Grand Prize of $10,000.

SEE THE MOVIE PREMIERE SCHEDULE FROM OCTOBER 22 TO NOVEMBER 7: Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and Hallmark Movies Now 2021 New Holiday Movies

'COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS' PREMIERES

Premiere times are 8:00pm ET/PT unless otherwise noted below

Friday, October 22: "You, Me & The Christmas Trees"

Stars: Danica McKellar ("The Wonder Years"), Benjamin Ayres ("Suits"), Jason Hervey ("The Wonder Years")

Olivia is Connecticut's resident expert on evergreens who, just days before the holiday, agrees to help Jack, a fourth generation Christmas tree farmer in Avon. A mysterious illness has befallen their firs, causing them to die out and threatening his family's 100-year business. As Olivia tries to get to the root of the problem and extends her stay in town, she and Jack spend more time together and feelings begin to develop.

Saturday, October 23: "Boyfriends of Christmas Past"

Stars: Catherine Haena Kim ("FBI"), Raymond Ablack ("Ginny & Georgia"), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee ("Kim's Convenience")

Leading up to Christmas, marketing executive, Lauren, is visited by the ghosts of four ex boyfriends. She must learn to open her heart or risk losing her best friend, Nate.

Sunday, October 24: "The Santa Stakeout"

Stars: Tamera Mowry-Housley ("The Real," "Sister, Sister"), Paul Campbell ("Battlestar Galactica"), Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix)

Tanya is a police detective who is reluctantly partnered with fellow detective Ryan to solve a recent string of heists taking place during high-profile holiday parties around town. They go undercover as newlyweds Tasha and Rupert, moving into the vacant house next to Mr. Miller, the jovial chair of the community's Christmas committee... and the prime suspect in the case. As Tanya and Ryan partake in the neighborhood's holiday happenings to keep up appearances and crack the case, they get swept up in Christmas. Before they know it, their cover story as a couple in love starts to become reality.

Friday, October 29: "Christmas in Harmony"

Stars: Ashleigh Murray ("Riverdale"), Luke James (Little, Star), Loretta Devine (Queen Bees, Family Reunion), Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child, "The Masked Singer"), Basil Wallace (Blood Diamond)

Harmony is tricked into auditioning for the Holiday Chorus - directed by an ex-boyfriend. By Christmas Eve, they could be harmonizing in the key of love.

Saturday, October 30: "Coyote Creek Christmas"

Stars: Janel Parrish ("Right in Front of Me"), Ryan Paevey ("A Little Daytime Drama")

A "Christmas Around the World" party helps two people find love at home.

Sunday, October 31: "Christmas Sail"

Stars: Katee Sackhoff ("The Mandalorian"), Patrick Sabongui ("Firefly Lane"), Terry O'Quinn ("Lost")

When Liz returns home to take care of her estranged father she is determined to give her daughter a perfect Christmas and reconnects with her best friend.

Friday, November 5: "Open by Christmas"

Stars: Alison Sweeney ("Days of our Lives"), Erica Durance ("Smallville"), Brennan Elliott ("Christmas in Vienna")

When Nicky finds an unopened Christmas card from a high school secret admirer, she and her best friend Simone search to find and thank the anonymous author.

Saturday, November 6: "Next Stop, Christmas"

Stars: Lyndsy Fonseca ("How I Met Your Mother"), Chandler Massey ("Days of our Lives"), Lea Thompson (Back to the Future), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future)

Angie wonders what her life would be like if she had married a former boyfriend who became a famous sportscaster. She takes the train home to spend Christmas with her family and inexplicably finds herself 10 years in the past. With the advice of the train's enigmatic conductor, Angie has the chance to revisit that Christmas and learn what - and who - is truly important to her.

Sunday, November 7: "A Christmas Treasure"

Stars: Jordin Sparks (Sparkle, "American Idol"), Michael Xavier ("Christmas Comes Twice," "Beware of the Midwife")

After opening a 100-year-old time capsule and meeting a charming chef, Lou questions whether or not she should move to New York after Christmas and further her writing career.

"Christmas at Castle Hart" - premiere date to be announced

Stars: Lacey Chabert ("Sweet Carolina"), Stuart Townsend ("Salem")

Brooke Bennett goes to Ireland for Christmas to search for her Irish roots. While there, she meets Aiden Hart, Earl of Glaslough. Mistaken for an elite event planner, she's hired to host his castle's epic Christmas party.

"The Christmas Contest" (wt) - premiere date to be announced

Stars: Candace Cameron Bure ("Fuller House"), John Brotherton ("Fuller House"), Barbara Niven ("Chesapeake Shores")

Exes Lara and Ben compete in a Christmas contest to win money for the charity of their choosing. The city watches them battle and choose what is more important, victory or love.

"The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls" (wt) - premiere date to be announced

Stars: Robert Buckley ("Chesapeake Shores"), Ana Ayora ("In the Dark"), Jonathan Bennett (Mean Girls), with Sharon Lawrence ("NYPD Blue"), Treat Williams ("Chesapeake Shores") and Brad Harder ("Aurora Teagarden Mysteries")

The Mitchell brothers compete to see who can create the best Christmas House.

"The Nine Kittens of Christmas" - premiere date to be announced

Stars: Brandon Routh ("The Rookie"), Kimberley Sustad ("Christmas by Starlight"), Gregory Harrison ("Chesapeake Shores")

Cat lovers Zachary and Marilee are thrown back together at Christmas when they're tasked with finding homes for a litter of adorable kittens.

Sister Swap Movies- premiere dates to be announced:

"Sister Swap: A Hometown Holiday" & "Sister Swap: Christmas in the City"

Kimberly Williams-Paisley ("Darrow Mysteries," Father of the Bride), Ashley Williams ("Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater," "The Jim Gaffigan Show"), Mark Deklin ("Grace and Frankie," "Designated Survivor"), Keith Robinson ("Saints & Sinners," "A Christmas Love Story"), Susan Yeagley ("Mike Tyson Mysteries, " "Parks and Recreation") and Kevin Nealon ("Man with a Plan," "Weeds")

In these interconnected movies, Jennifer and Meg Swift are sisters who couldn't be closer despite living hours apart. Jennifer is in Salt Lake City, running a successful restaurant she started with her late husband and raising her teenaged son Simon. Meg stayed in their hometown of Hazelwood, helping their parents run the local bakery. This Christmas is the family's first since the passing of Uncle Dave who owned the town's beloved theater, The Madison, where many memories were made over the years. When Jennifer and Simon return home for the holiday, they become wistful for one more Christmas at The Madison, despite that it's for sale and in need of repairs. Meanwhile, Meg is helping Jennifer's restaurant staff in Salt Lake prepare for a Christmas competition among local restaurants with the winner earning money for the charity of its choice. With the sisters switching cities leading up to the holiday, they find a new sense of purpose and discover what they both truly need in life and in love.

--HALLMARK CHANNEL -

'MIRACLES OF CHRISTMAS' PREMIERES

Premiere times are 10:00pm ET/PT

Saturday, October 23: "Christmas In My Heart"

Stars: Heather Hemmens ("Love, Take Two," "Roswell, New Mexico"), Luke Macfarlane ("Killjoys"), Sheryl Lee Ralph ("Christmas Comes Twice," "Moesha")

Concert violinist Beth tutors the daughter of reclusive Country music star Sean to prep her for the holiday concert. They are joined through the connective power of music.

Saturday, October 30: "The Christmas Promise"

Stars: Torrey DeVitto ("Chicago Med"), Dylan Bruce ("Orphan Black"), Patrick Duffy ("Dallas"), Greyston Holt ("Chesapeake Shores")

Nicole learns to deal with grief, with the help of her grandfather and a carpenter she hires to renovate the home that was once meant for her and her fiancé.

Saturday, November 6: "Debbie Macomber's A Mrs. Miracle Christmas"

Stars: Kaitlin Doubleday ("Love on Iceland"), Steve Lund ("Baby, It's Cold Inside"), Caroline Rhea ("Sabrina the Teenage Witch")

When a family faces loneliness and loss of faith, Mrs. Miracle swoops in to renew their Christmas Spirit, and they experience a holiday of heavenly proportions.

"The Christmas Bond" (wt) - premiere date to be announced

Stars: Holly Robinson Peete ("The Christmas Doctor"), Lyriq Bent (Acrimony), Nik Sanchez ("The Rookie")

As a single mom and her teenaged son with autism come to a crossroad during Christmas, she must learn to let go so he can flourish as she finds her own heart healing in unexpected ways.

-- HALLMARK MOVIES & MYSTERIES --

"Every Time a Bell Rings" - premiere date to be announced

Stars: Erin Cahill ("A Timeless Christmas"), Brittany Ishibashi ("Grace and Frankie"), Ali Leibert ("Van Helsing"), Wes Brown ("Sweet Pecan Summer")

Three sisters reunite in their hometown of Natchez, MS at Christmas after a long time apart. They're surprised to discover their late father had planned one last scavenger hunt for them to find the family's wooden wishing bell, a beloved, annual holiday tradition when they were young. As they search for clues in the days leading up to Christmas, the trio visits local childhood haunts around Natchez that hold special meaning for them. In the process, their sisterly bond is rekindled and each learns an important lesson about what they want in life and in love.

-- HALLMARK MOVIES NOW --

MORE TO COME ADDITIONAL MOVIE AND SCHEDULING NEWS WILL BE RELEASED AS THE MERRIEST SEASON CONTINUES!

Additional scheduling news will be released as the merriest season continues!

**For the most up-to-date schedule and more information about this year's movies, please download the Hallmark Movie Checklist App.

LINK FOR DETAILS ON ADDITIONAL HOLIDAY 2021 ELEMENTS AND EXPERIENCES: HallmarkChannel.com Hallmark Movie Checklist App Hallmark Channel Wines Hallmark Channel Chocolate Hallmark Publishing Holiday Books Exclusive Hallmark Channel-branded Gifts The Republic of Tea Tea Tins

-- CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS --