Why is the Hallmark Channel Such A Success? - The American Spectator | USA News and Politics
Why is the Hallmark Channel Such A Success?
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While the liberal media keeps throwing praise at raunchy shows likeABC’s Scandal, the TBS series Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, andAmazon.com’s Transparent, Hallmark Channel has a series of highly-rated family dramas and feel-good movies that the press gives little-to-no attention or respect. Their annual Countdown to Christmas event has become a tradition at the network, while the original series When Calls the Heart is a top performers on Sunday nights. You won’t see producer Michael Landon Jr. or stars Erin Krakow, Daniel Lissing, and Laurie Loughlin at the Emmys anytime soon. Their most recent show, Chesapeake Shores, also became the #1 show among general audiences, and among adults 25-54, and they did it without the gratuitous sex and violence seen in most other television shows.

It is worth noting that the network, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hallmark Cards (no bastion of conservatism, but still makes wonderful products, especially for special occasions), has at all odds been a tremendous success. When the channel launched in 2001 as a replacement for the Odyssey Network – then a joint venture between Hallmark Entertainment (now Sonar Entertainment) and The Jim Henson Company, they simply were not that well known, despite the Hallmark insignia and logo being on the network – and many movies from the famed Hallmark Hall of Fame franchise airing on there, and were beaten by other general entertainment channels like TBS and TNT, both owned by TimeWarner.

But over their 15 years in existence, they have persevered, and now have become the #2 network in total viewers behind ESPN. The reason is two-fold. First, Hallmark Channel is the rare national TV network nowadays that caters to a general family audience rather than just children, and that appeals to many social conservatives and those who long to go back to a time when television was meant for escapism. This is an audience that wants their ideas of programming respected, not sneered at by arrogant Hollywood elitists. You fill in the name of anybody working in the TV industry today.

The second reason they have succeeded is the people who put out the shows that air on there. They’re simply better than the opposition. The programming has higher quality, pretty much a throwback to TV shows of the past.

A great example is When Calls the Heart.  Christianity is represented in a positive way. Most of Hollywood despises Christianity being presented in a positive light. Christianity is painted as bigoted, homophobic, and xenophobic. The Hallmark Channel airs shows like this that appeal to Christians by not insulting them.

Sick of the garbage being passed as entertainment today by mainstream Hollywood, Hallmark channel viewers vote with their eyeballs. Sex might sell, but real love – love of family, faith and country, sells too.

The network gets little respect by the liberal press, but they have a lot of wholesome content that is lacking in most of today’s entertainment. And that’s why Hallmark Channel prospers after 15 years on the air.

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