Editing Hallmark Channel (section)

===Hallmark Channel===
In 2000, Odyssey's ownership group was re-organized as Crown Media Holdings, with Hallmark, Chase Equity Associates, Liberty Media, and the NICC transferring their shares in Odyssey to the company. There were plans for the company to [[Initial public offering|go public]]; Hallmark received all of Crown Media's [[class B share]]s, which were worth ten votes each, thus giving it control of Crown Media.<ref name="idch2">{{cite book |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/crown-media-holdings-inc-history/ |title=International Directory of Company Histories. Volume 45. |date=2002 |publisher=St. James Press |language=en |chapter=History of Crown Media Holdings, Inc. |access-date=December 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171531/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/crown-media-holdings-inc-history/ |archive-date=December 28, 2017 |url-status=live |via=FundingUniverse}}</ref> After The Jim Henson Company was sold to German company EM.TV & Merchandising in February 2000, it sold its remaining stake in Odyssey the following month in exchange for 8% of Crown Media's stock.<ref name="idch2" /><ref>{{cite news |date=December 22, 2002 |title=Kermit goes off the air; Hallmark, Modi Entertainment may launch family channel |website=Indian Television Dot Com |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/dec2k/dec28.htm |access-date=January 8, 2018}}</ref>

In March 2001, Crown Media announced that Odyssey would rebrand as Hallmark Channel on August 6, taking advantage of the better-known Hallmark brand to encourage wider carriage. Loesch commented that some viewers had mistaken Odyssey as being a travel or [[science fiction]] channel rather than family entertainment, and that Hallmark Channel's main goal would be telling "great stories".<ref name=":5">{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Allan |date=August 4, 2001 |title=All's 'Wells' at Hallmark's new digs |language=en |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/08/04/alls-wells-at-hallmarks-new-digs/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015208/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-08-04/news/0108040156_1_hallmark-channel-hallmark-entertainment-travel-channel |archive-date=January 25, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Flint |first=Joe |title=Odyssey to Change Name To the Hallmark Channel |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB985801576721580529 |access-date=2023-04-08 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=March 29, 2001 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bracht |first=Mel |title=Hallmark Channel's odyssey on cable |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2001/08/12/hallmark-channels-odyssey-on-cable/62135217007/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref> Crown Media negotiated with the NICC to reduce the amount of religious programming Hallmark Channel would air to 14 hours per-week (as well as allow for less overtly-religious programs with broader, spiritual themes), and help fund and distribute a digital cable network for the NICC.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Higgins |first=John M. |date=2001-04-02 |title=Odyssey to Hallmark |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/odyssey-hallmark-96859 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Broadcasting Cable |language=en}}</ref> The channel's launch programming included the miniseries ''[[The Infinite Worlds of H. G. Wells|The Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells]]'', a new slate of original movies, and acquired programming such as ''[[Tales from the Neverending Story]]''.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-08-03 |title=Odyssey becomes Hallmark |url=https://www.deseret.com/2001/8/3/19599484/odyssey-becomes-hallmark |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Hallmark Channel Headquarters.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Hallmark Channel's headquarters in [[Studio City, California]]]]
In 2002, the Hallmark Channel premiered a weekday morning talk show, ''New Morning''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Waldron|first1=Clarence|title=Timberly Whitfield: Host of Daily Show "new Morning' on Hallmark Channel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-DoDAAAAMBAJ&q=%22New+Morning%22+TV+show+Hallmark&pg=PA40|access-date=January 8, 2018|work=Jet|issue=25|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|date=June 25, 2007|volume=111|language=en|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803005314/https://books.google.com/books?id=-DoDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA40&ots=ac9l5oQofu&dq=%22New%20Morning%22%20TV%20show%20Hallmark&pg=PA40#v=onepage&q=%22New%20Morning%22%20TV%20show%20Hallmark&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> A Sunday morning version, hosted by [[Naomi Judd]], titled ''Naomi's New Morning'', debuted in 2005<ref>{{cite news|title=Interview With Naomi Judd|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/08/lkl.01.html|access-date=January 8, 2018|work=CNN.com|date=January 8, 2007|language=en|archive-date=October 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006231052/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/08/lkl.01.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and lasted two years before being pulled from the schedule in early 2007. In 2004, the network launched a sister channel, [[Hallmark Mystery|Hallmark Movie Channel]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dempsey |first1=John |date=November 12, 2003 |title=Hallmark launches pic outlet |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2003/tv/news/hallmark-launches-pic-outlet-1117895535/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124071659/http://variety.com/2003/tv/news/hallmark-launches-pic-outlet-1117895535/ |archive-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>

[[Hallmark Channel (international)|Hallmark Channels in international markets]] were sold for about $242 million in 2005 to Sparrowhawk Media, a private equity group backed by [[Providence Equity Partners]] and [[3i]].<ref name=rtr>{{cite news |first=Gavin |last=Haycock |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL2834678120070828 |title=NBC Universal agrees to buy Sparrowhawk Media |work=Reuters |access-date=September 26, 2008 |date=August 28, 2007 |archive-date=January 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123150938/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL2834678120070828 |url-status=live }}</ref> The channel in 2005 had its highest-rated year with 34% increase in viewers, being ranked seventh in growth, and the highest-rated movie on a basic cable network (''Meet the Santas'').<ref name=thr>{{cite news |last1=Sims |first1=James |title=Milestone: Hallmark Channel at 5 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/milestone-hallmark-channel-at-5-138399 |access-date=December 27, 2017 |periodical=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Holdings|The Nielsen Company]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=July 14, 2006 |language=en |archive-date=December 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228112317/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/milestone-hallmark-channel-at-5-138399 |url-status=live }}</ref>

With the expiration of RHI Entertainment's exclusive contract with Hallmark Channel, [[Larry Levinson Productions]] became the channel's sole producer. In 2007, additional producers were added as suppliers as the channel increased the number of original films by 50% from 20 in 2007 to 30 in 2008.<ref name=mcn>{{cite news|last1=Haugsted|first1=Linda|title=Hallmark Slates More Movies|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/content/hallmark-slates-more-movies/366709|access-date=January 29, 2018|work=Multichannel|date=July 13, 2007|language=en|archive-date=January 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130094319/http://www.multichannel.com/news/content/hallmark-slates-more-movies/366709|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2008, the [[Hillary Clinton]] presidential campaign purchased an hour of Hallmark Channel's primetime slots under a [[informercial|paid programming]] arrangement to run a town hall special promoting Clinton's campaign for [[President of the United States]] on February 4, the day before the multi-state "[[Super Tuesday (2008)|Super Tuesday]]" primaries.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Crupi|first1=Anthony|title=Clinton Buys Block on Hallmark|url=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/cabletv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003705031|access-date=January 11, 2018|work=Media Week|date=January 31, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205162345/http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/cabletv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003705031|archive-date=February 5, 2008}}</ref> The wheel series "Mystery Movie" was discontinued in 2008 as the channel was doing better with lighter romances.<ref name="adage"/> Reporting on Hallmark Channel's 2009 upfronts, ''[[The New York Observer]]'' noted that the channel had built a brand on formulaic romantic movies, explaining that "while other media companies were thrashing around in a tumultuous, confusing sea of unpredictability, the Hallmark Channel was thriving with the television equivalent of [[comfort food]]."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-03-25 |title=Hallmark TV Chief Henry Schleiff On His Network's Programming: 'It's Very Formulaic. That's Our Brand' |url=https://observer.com/2009/03/hallmark-tv-chief-henry-schleiff-on-his-networks-programming-its-very-formulaic-thats-our-brand/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Observer |language=en-US}}</ref>