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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Pam Slay, 818-755-2480 March 13, 2014 [email protected]

HALLMARK MOVIE CHANNEL ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT DEAL TO CREATE THE NETWORK’S FIRST-EVER ORIGINAL MYSTERY WHEEL FRANCHISE WITH THREE ORIGINAL MOVIE SERIES SET TO AIR IN 2015

“Garage Sale Mystery” Starring Lori Loughlin First To Be Greenlit Into New HMC Mystery Wheel, Followed by the Addition of “Cedar Cove” Star Dylan Neal Who Will Executive Produce and Star in “The Gourmet Detective;” Third Component to the Wheel Set to be Greenlit Soon

Hallmark Movie Channel is excited to announce the launch of a new development deal of the network’s first-ever Original Mystery Wheel Franchise with three contemporary original series of mystery movies. Within the Mystery Wheel Franchise for 2015, is a three-part, two-hour series of films airing in alternation of each other. Hallmark Movie Channel is pleased to announce that the first movie of the franchise will be “Garage Sale Mystery,” starring Lori Loughlin (“When Calls the Heart,” “Full House”), which originally premiered on Hallmark Channel September 14, 2013. Millions flocked to watch the premiere of “Garage Sale Mystery” and in an effort to be part of Hallmark Movie Channel’s re-branding initiative of Movies and Mysteries, the company has decided that the series of movies would most appropriately fit Hallmark Movie Channel’s Mystery Wheel Franchise. “Great mysteries have always been a strong part of Hallmark Movie Channel’s brand,” said Michelle Vicary, EVP, Programming for Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel. “The nature of the franchise compels viewers to come back for more suspenseful action from their favorite characters each week and become invested in each series’ thrilling extended storylines,” concluded Vicary. In “Garage Sale Mystery,” Lori Loughlin will star as Jennifer Shannon, an expert garage sale treasure hunter, who has a keen eye for detail and natural problem solving instincts, which inspire her to help the police solve mysteries and crime. The movie franchise will continue to follow Jennifer as she scours the sales for hidden treasures and clues. The second wheel stars Dylan Neal (“Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove”) who will star in and executive produce, “The Gourmet Detective,” based on the series of books by Peter King. Neal’s real- life wife Becky Southwell will write the movies about the chef turned culinary sleuth. In “The Gourmet Detective,” a culinary whiz uses his mastery of food, drink and cooking to solve crimes of the culinary world. Whether it’s the theft of a valuable recipe or a suspicious murder in the middle of a five-star restaurant, his insight, skills and encyclopedic knowledge of all things edible always lead him to the culprit. Along with Dylan Neal, Joel Rice, Michael Prupas and Becky Southwell are all executive producers. The third component to the movie series will be announced shortly. Crown Media Family Networks, home of Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel, first created a Mystery Wheel Franchise on Hallmark Channel, which were some of the network’s biggest ratings earners. The highly-rated movie series included “,” starring Kellie Martin, “McBride” starring John Larroquette, “” with Lea Thompson and “” featuring Dick Van Dyke.

(more) HALLMARK MOVIE CHANNEL – HMC ANNOUNCES NEW MYSTERY WHEEL FRANCHISE OF TWO-HOUR MOVIES WILL ANCHOR THE NETWORK IN 2015 – Page 2

Hallmark Movie Channel, the second linear channel from Crown Media Holdings, Inc., simulcast in SD (Standard Definition) and HD (High Definition), is a trusted family-friendly network devoted to quality storytelling. Available in 53 million homes and one of the fastest-growing cable TV networks, Hallmark Movie Channel is a 24-hour digital cable network dedicated to bringing viewers original movies with a mix of classic theatrical films, and presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library. In today’s crowded television landscape, the network offers viewers a diverse range of film genres, including mysteries, suspense, coming-of-age dramas, and epic fantasies. Crown Media Family Networks is the umbrella unit of Crown Media Holdings, Inc., which houses Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel. The company operates and distributes both channels in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) with Hallmark Channel available to 86 million subscribers in the U.S. and Hallmark Movie Channel in 53 million homes. Hallmark Channel is the nation’s leading destination for quality family programming with an ambitious slate of original TV movies, specials such as Kitten Bowl, as well as some of television’s most beloved sitcoms and series, including The Golden Girls, The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, and Frasier. Hallmark Channel is also home to original scripted series, including Cedar Cove and When Calls the Heart, and Daytime Emmy-nominated lifestyle program, Home & Family, a daily two-hour live show shot in a fully functional house located on the Universal Studios California lot. Hallmark Movie Channel is one of America’s fastest-growing cable networks and provides family-friendly movies with a mix of original films, classic theatrical releases, and presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library. In addition, Crown Media Family Networks includes the online offerings of HallmarkChannel.com and HallmarkMovieChannel.com.

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