FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Nancy Carr, 818-755-2643 July 22, 2009 [email protected]

HALLMARK MOVIE CHANNEL AND TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS TAP ALEC BALDWIN, BILLY CRYSTAL, MARCIA GAY HARDEN, SPIKE LEE AND DEBRA MESSING TO JUDGE STUDENT FILMS FOR NETWORK PREMIERE

New Initiative “Film Positive” Launches in Early 2010

Hallmark Movie Channel and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts have tapped prestigious Tisch alumni Billy Crystal, Marcia Gay Harden, Spike Lee and Debra Messing to join Alec Baldwin on a panel to judge student and alumni films. The films will air nationally on Hallmark Movie Channel as part of “Film Positive,” a cinematic celebration of up-and-coming filmmakers, debuting on-air and online in early 2010. “This is a unique and exciting opportunity for Hallmark Movie Channel, its viewers and Tisch students,” said Bill Abbott, President and Chief Executive Officer, Crown Media Holdings, Inc. “These successful alumni represent the very best of Tisch and now they can help handpick the next generation of filmmakers. Indeed, it’s really the perfect blend of established talent working with emerging talent in a way that will provide national exposure for these compelling and beautiful stories.” “Our graduates are some of our most valuable resources, contributing as they do in many ways so that successive generations of talent can be nurtured,” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, dean of the Tisch School of the Arts. “We are grateful to alumni Alec Baldwin, Billy Crystal, Marcia Gay Harden, Spike Lee and Debra Messing for their participation in this exciting new partnership. And once again, we extend our thanks to Hallmark Movie Channel for the opportunity to showcase the enormously talented filmmakers from our School’s Kanbar Institute of Film and Television.” -more- HALLMARK MOVIE CHANNEL/HALLMARK MOVIE CHANNEL AND TISCH SCHOOL OF ARTS TAP PRESTIGIOUS ALUMNI TO JUDGE STUDENT FILMS – Page Two

The esteemed panel will judge the films based on a set of brand-defining criteria as determined by Hallmark Movie Channel. In order to qualify, the films should have high production values, inspirational and celebratory themes, storytelling qualities and, above all, be appropriate for the entire family. In addition, the short films can be any length up to 30 minutes. Those qualifying for entry include current students of NYU as well as alumni of up to five years (May 2004 - May 2009). Hallmark Movie Channel, the second linear channel from Crown Media Holdings, Inc., simulcast in SD (Standard Definition) and HD (High Definition), is a 24-hour cable network dedicated to bringing viewers the greatest family movies of all time with a mix of classic theatrical films, presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library, original Hallmark Channel movies and special events. In today’s crowded television landscape, the network is a unique and captivating entertainment experience, providing programming that families can watch together, and is now available in 19 million homes. Crown Media also operates Hallmark Channel which provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming to a national audience of nearly 87 million subscribers. For more information, please visit www.hallmarkchannelpress.com # # #