Hallmark Channel Launching High-Def Version

Hallmark said Wednesday (Dec. 16) it is launching a
high-definition version of the channel in February 2010.

Hallmark will also continue to deliver an SD version of the
channel.

"As more homes have high-definition televisions, viewers are
becoming more selective in their television program choices," said
Hallmark Channel President Bill Abbott in announcing the new feed. "We're
delighted to be providing our family-friendly programming in compelling high-definition
format to this growing audience."

According to Hallmark, the channel currently reaches 88
million homes via over 5,000 cable systems and DBS.

The co-owned Hallmark Movie channel is already available in HD.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.