BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Although the linear cable TV business is starting to contract — RIP Pivot, Esquire Network, H2, SoapNet, etc. — Hallmark Channel will expand with the addition of a third network, Hallmark Drama, launching Oct. 1.
Crown Media, owner of the Hallmark networks, did not announce any carriage for the new channel. So, it’s unclear whether Hallmark Drama will be carried by locally available cable/satellite services. Crown already has Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Hallmark Drama will draw from the existing library of Hallmark networks programming with plans to add new original content.
In addition, on Oct. 3 Crown will launch a subscription streaming service, Hallmark Movies Now, available via iOS, Android, Roku and Amazon Fire among other devices. This streaming service, which will cost $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year, will give subscribers access to more than 800 hours of family friendly content not available on Crown’s linear networks.
Crown also announced plans to launch a publishing division that will create original content and novelizations of previously aired original Hallmark movies.
Kept/canceled
TBS renewed “Angie Tribeca” for a fourth season, and TNT will bring back “Animal Kingdom” for a third season.
Hulu renewed “Harlots” for a second season.
Hallmark Channel renewed “Good Witch” for season four, “When Calls the Heart” for season five, and daytime chat show “Home & Family” for season six.
Lifetime renewed “UnReal” for a fourth season — season three airs in early 2018 — and a second season of “Mary Kills.”
Channel surfing
Katy Perry will host the 2017 “MTV Video Music Awards” (8 p.m. Aug. 27). … Hulu will stream all episodes of “Full House,” “Family Matters,” “Step by Step,” “Perfect Strangers” and “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper” — all shows from ABC’s TGIF ’90s lineup — on Sept. 29. … Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon are developing a TV series about morning TV news shows that they will star in.
Post-Gazette TV writer Rob Owen is attending the Television Critics Association summer press tour. Follow RobOwenTV at Twitter or on Facebook. You can reach Rob at 412-263-2582 or rowen@post-gazette.com.
First Published: July 28, 2017, 8:43 p.m.
