After airing on ABC for 3 years, the Hallmark Hall of Fame Films are now moving to the Hallmark Channel.
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| Anne Heche in Silver Bells |
The first HHOF Movie to air on the Hallmark Channel, will be the Christmas Movie One Christmas Eve, scheduled to air, at this time, on November 30, 2014. The film stars Anne Heche, who also starred in the HHOF Christmas Movie Silver Bells.
Hallmark Hall of Fame Movies have a long history, having aired on Television for more than 60 years!
According to the press release, the "Hallmark Channel will now air both the premiere presentations and multiple encores of each production."
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So...
What do you all think about this news?
I know some of you, who follow my site, do not have cable/satellite and you look forward to seeing, at least, the Hallmark Hall of Fame Movies on your local TV stations.
While this news isn't great for anyone who doesn't have the Hallmark Channel...
on the plus side, Hallmark Hall of Fame Movies are typically released on DVD soon after their airings on TV.
Please share your thoughts on this move and your favorite HHOF movie in the Comments below...
I read the press release you linked in above. It doesn't make sense to me. They say in the report that it got better ratings. If that's true, why would you remove it?
ReplyDeleteMy favorite HHOF movies are Season for Miracles, Silver Bells , and Fallen Angel.
Great question about the ratings. That didn't make sense to me, either.
DeleteAlso, I like your HHOF picks! So many good ones!
I love A Season for Miracles, Christmas with Holly, Front of the Class, The Secret Garden, Ellen Foster, and many, many more!!!
I don't think there is a Hallmark Movie I don't like. :) and they are pretty much all my favorites!!
DeleteI have the Hallmark Channel but I feel terrible for others who don't.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Hallmark Hall of Fame is the Sarah Plain and Tall trilogy and Season for Miracles. T.H.
I know what you mean... I feel bad for them, too. Not only do we get the premiere of 12 new Christmas movies, but we also get this new HHOF movie, too. I do hope many of them are released soon on DVD!
DeleteIs it just me or does it seem as special when they put it on the Hallmark Channel with all the other Christmas movies?
ReplyDeleteMy favorites: Front of the Class and Beyond the Blackboard. If you couldn't tell, I'm a teacher.
I agree. It won't be, quite, the same.
DeleteAlso, I thought it was a strange time to let it go. Don't networks look for Christmas programming at Christmastime? Why would they want to let it go now? I understand it.
I also love the HHOF movies you mentioned! They are wonderful and so inspiring I hope for all teachers. If you haven't seen it, another great teacher movie is A Smile as Big as the Moon.
I don't get it, either. The ratings are great and attract new viewers to the network. I don't understand why ABC would give them up unless it's because some of them are faith based and mention God and our faith and the networks are trying to get away from that. Poor decision if you ask me. We're hungry for more faith based and family television, that's why the Hallmark Channels are doing so well.
ReplyDeleteDitto on everything you said, Susan! 100%!!! We are hungry for faith and family friendly programming. I agree it is a poor decision, especially at Christmastime.
DeleteI kind of suspected something was up when they didn't air a HHOF movie before Valentines day this year. For years and years they have always had three movies a year to promote their three biggest card selling events at Hallmark stores - Valentines day, Mothers Day, and Christmas.
So... I wondered if there was something wrong back in February, when they didn't premiere a new one then. I never guessed, however, they would end them on ABC, just before Christmas!!!
I agree Susan!!! That is it exactly. You can now have all the bad language you want to say, but don't mention God!!! It's a shame, because Hallmark, UP and INSP are all doing extremely well for that reason. You would think that alone would prove what people what and feel!!!
DeleteI think it's a terrible decision and a sign of the times. Are there even any family programs left on the main television channels anymore? I rarely watch television programming anymore because it's turned into trash TV.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Lisa. You can hardly watch a network drama, or sitcom for that matter, these days, without immorality thrown in your face. So sad. What does that say for our future generations?
DeleteI do think it makes Hallmark Hall of Fame movies more special when they air on network TV. There's something "grand" about it. Most likely the faith based themes. Network TV always has to be "politically correct". Pathetic.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Norma - it is more "Grand" or "Special" when it first airs on Local TV! I just don't think ABC gets it. You are probably right - it's most likely a "politically correct" thing. So Sad.
DeleteI'm so glad many of us have Hallmark!
I am completely confused. On my cable provider I get two Hallmark channels, one 387 and the other 468. My only problem is that at times they have different movies on and I would like to see both. I get to record one of them. My provider is Comcast. I understand At&T does not have neither one of of the Hallmark channels.
ReplyDeleteI answered this question below...
DeleteI'll try again. I am completely confused. I do have Comcast and I am able to get both channels on HD 387 and 468. At times they have two different movies on at the same time and I get to record one of them.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have the regular Hallmark Channel and the Hallmark Movie Channel. You are very lucky! Hallmark owns both of these channels, but they have different programs on both of them. Enjoy! Both stations air wonderful movies!
DeleteIt doesn't matter where the HHOF movies air, I'm just glad Hallmark is continuing the tradition. My favorites are Christmas with Holly, The Lost Valentine, November Christmas and The Magic of Ordinary Days.
ReplyDeleteOh, I forgot about The Magic of Ordinary Days. I like that one, too! And, I forgot to mention I like The Pictures of Hollis Woods. They make so many good ones.
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DeleteI am glad we will get to see the new one on Hallmark, too, but I would be pretty disappointed if I was one of those people who didn't have Hallmark. I can't help myself from feeling bad for them. :(
That's so nice of you. I feel bad for them. too. It seems so unfair.
DeleteI like that so many of the HHOF movies are either based on books (introducing you to authors that you might not know) or true events. It's a shame that none of the networks seem all that interested in helping to keep such a grand tradition alive. You also typically get really good up-and-coming talent along with established veterans of acting attached to HHOF projects. Even though there won't be the cachet of a "big 3 network," I hope that the entertainment community still gives their participation to these projects.
ReplyDeleteFantastic point. You are so right. Hallmark is wonderful at getting great new talent and veteran actors. They certainly know how to please every generation! I hope that continues, too!
DeleteNaturally, I'm disappointed in the decision, however since my opinion won't be swaying any decisions, I'll merely settle for the DVD's, as I always do. :)
ReplyDeleteI thought of you, Rissi, when I heard this news. I wish another local network was smart enough to pick it up.
DeleteWhen they used to play the Walden - Walmart family night movies a few years back on local TV, those aired on FOX and NBC. So, perhaps one of those networks would be willing.
I know this would be the 3rd attempt.
However... as they say - "3rd times the charm!"
So what does this mean? Christmas Under Wraps starring Candace Cameron Bure won't air that night now!? They both are scheduled for same night. :(
ReplyDeleteBeen wondering the same thing. Stay tuned.
DeleteI'm curious what is going to happen to Christmas Under Wraps now. Both are scheduled for the same night :(
ReplyDeleteI'm looking into it... I promise!
DeleteWhile I doubt it's a conspiracy against faith (seriously), since TV is strictly a money-based business and if HHOF were profitable they'd air them--and, remember, Hallmark is sole, or almost sole, sponsor of the HOF films, so it could very well be their choice to move them to their own network.
ReplyDeleteStill, I, too, am sad to see these leave network TV, even as someone lucky enough to have both flavors of the Hallmark-branded cable channels. I will still be watching the HHOF movies, of course, but those on network did feel more "event" than the Hallmark Channel-produced films, in part because they had much larger budgets ... And I wonder if that will remain true. If not, sadly, quality will inevitably decline. And I say this as someone who loves many Hallmark Channel movies but can also admit they are decidedly low budget affairs.
I also hope, but speculate they may not, they retain the special Hallmark-only, long-form commercial insertions. They were the only non-sports programming we watched all year long straight through, without fast forwarding through the commercials ... Which were occasionally even more touching than the movies.
As for favorites, Christmas films were always the best, though Sarah Plain and Tall was very good television. I, too, loved Season of Miracles and A Dog Named Christmas.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Guess we will never know the exact reasons why.
DeleteI also hope they keep those delightfully creative Hallmark Card commercials. I love the little boy who is upset about moving and they have to put their Christmas tree in the corner, instead of in the window. So cute. Precious.
I am grateful for this beautiful website and all of the wonderful information given. I found this site because of a search for a Christmas movie last year. Thank you for keeping me updated on what's showing, when and where. I would have missed Signed Sealed Delivered if it hadn't been for the discussion on this site. I am thrilled with Cedar Cove, When Calls the Heart and Signed Sealed Delivered. My fingers are crossed for another season of SSD.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the updates and helping me see the big picture of wonderful quality television. I'm so excited! Pamela
As a Hallmark Channel viewer, I believe that all the changes have to do with greed more than anything else. There is more advertising (not just Hallmark, of course) that is degrading the movie or program that we're watching. Many programs (again, not just Hallmark) have more than 45 minutes of commercials; the commercials are so long that they now include full-run infomercials. Despite the abundance of commercials, the programs still go beyond a regularly-scheduled time - extremely irritating when a program has been DVR'd and we miss the ending.
ReplyDeleteI also notice that Hallmark uses mostly unknown actors/actresses. What happened to some of our favorites? Where's Elisa Donovan? David Sutclffe? Maria Sokoloff? Andrea Roth? Marian Ross? Doris Roberts? I've also noticed that Hallmark has become ageist in their movies. Even teenagers and young women have asked, how come there's no one older than 30-35, Mom? Hallmark can try to hide the greed but viewers know exactly what they're doing. It's an insult.