Hallmark Launching New Streaming Service in September
Another streaming service is arriving for consumers.
This time, it’s Hallmark+, which is launching in mid-September. Talking with reporters Thursday in Pasadena, President and CEO Mike Perry said the new platform would cost $80 a year and offer the “very best of Hallmark with new exclusive content and membership benefits program.” That includes e-cards and “surprising gifts.”
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In other words, members will apparently earn reward points based on content that they are watching. Those points, or rewards, can be used in Hallmark stores.
“It’s symbiotic between streaming and our retail and digital footprint,” said Chief Brand Officer Darren Abbott. “We give content to inspire their lives and their rewards to help them live it.”
“Shoppers are viewers, viewers are shoppers,” added Perry.
The execs added that its partnership with Peacock will continue.
Among the series planned for the new platform: The Chicken Sisters featuring Leah Thompson, Wendie Malick and Margo Martindale as narrator, which is an adaption of KJ Dell’Antonia’s bestselling novel; Holiday limited series Holidazed and Mistletoe Murders; the reality competition series Finding Mr. Christmas; the previously announced unscripted show Celebrations with Lacey Chabert; a docu-style dating series hosted by Ashley Williams; a home renovation show hosted by Luke Macfarlane; and new movie trilogy called Groomsmen that’s inspired by the success of The Wedding Veil.
‘Hallmark has never been more a part of the culture conversation,” said EVP Emily Powers. “It’s never been more relevant. There’s a strong demand out there, a demand for hallmark. People want to interact with brand more.”
Here are the loglines for the new fare:
–Holidazed: A limited series starring Virginia Madsen, John C. McGinley, Dennis Haysbert, Rachelle Lefevre and Loretta Devine that follows six families in a cup-de-sac during the holidays. Executive producer is Gina Matthews.
–The Groomsmen: a trilogy of movies launching this fall starring Jonathan Bennett, Tyler Hynes and B.J. Britt that follow the trio of friends for a “romance and a bromance,” explained Bennett. Bennett, Tyler Hynes and Ryan M. Murphy are executive producers. Allen Lewis, Ron Oliver and Marnie Young are co-executive producers and Kristina Kambitova and Phillip Roth are supervising producers. Charles Cooper is producer. Ron Oliver directed.
–Finding Mr. Christmas. Hosted by Jonathan Bennett, 10 men compete in a series of challenges. The winner will land a leading role in a 2024 Hallmark Channel holiday movie — and earn the title of “Mr. Christmas.”
–Ready, Set, Glow! Planned for the end of the year, the three-episode limited series is hosted by Wes Brown, who will travel to holiday light displays of individual family homes. It’s from Glass Entertainment Partners. Executive producers are Nancy Glass, Danny Passman, Matt Carter and Wes Brown.
–Small Town Setup. Planned for 2025, this romantic comedy docu-style dating series is hosted by Ashley Williams. In each episode, they meet different hometown parents with a big problem – their successful adult child is living far away in a big city – and is still single. The couple gathers their neighbors and asks for help to find a match for their them to go out with. Now, the entire community is on the hunt to find the best three daters for the “city single” to go on dates with, in the hopes that they will fall in love, move back home and live happily ever after. Produced by Keshet Studios, Small Town Setup will be executive produced by Keshet Studios’ Peter Traugott and Rebecca Mayer, Keshet International’s Keren Shahar, and Keshet Media Group’s Avi Nir, alongside Showrunner/Executive Prodducer Ailee O’Neill and Host/Executive Producer Ashley Williams. Co-Executive Producers include Ben Long and Nieshia Crawford.
–Home is Where the Heart Is. Planned for 2025, this Luke Macfarlane-hosted home renovation series follows families who invite him inside a once-glorious house that has either been inherited or holds special meaning to them but is long overdue for some TLC. It’s from Maven Creative Media with Nikki Ray Media as production partner. Jessica Sebastian-Dayeh, Luke Macfarlane, Mike Sheerin, Tanya Linto and Megan Bidner are executive producers.
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