Some of the new series include The Motherhood, created and hosted by Connie Britton, who will connect with other single mothers who are navigating parenting, careers, and self-care; Baked with Love: Holiday, a bake-off series where home bakers will show off their signature family holiday desserts; Armed to Build, which stars Nikki DeLoach who assists a community give back to their first responders and veterans through life transformations; Daughter of the Bride, which centers on stories of daughters helping their single mothers find love; and Murder Mystery House, co-created by Jonathan Bennett, where Hallmark Mystery fans will be invited to a mansion to solve a “murder” by narrowing down suspects comprised of popular Hallmark actors and figure out who the “killer” is for a cash prize.
In addition, Celebrations with Lacey Chabert and Finding Mr. Christmas with Jonathan Bennett, which premiered last quarter, will return with new seasons.
Christmas is coming
Georger said Hallmark is making nearly 100 original movies, with 40 of those coming out during the holiday season. This year, the Hallmark Channel will be celebrating its 16th annual Countdown to Christmas, which features the channel’s holiday programming.
“Countdown to Christmas is a huge opportunity for advertisers and a huge focus for us,” Georger said.
Last year, Hallmark even delved into the sports world. The company partnered with the NFL and Skydance Sports for Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, which is about a Kansas City Chiefs fan who attempts to win the Fan of the Year award and falls in love with the team’s director of fan engagement, who also happens to be one of the competition’s judges. According to Hallmark, the movie became the No. 1 most-watched cable movie of 2024.
This year, the brand will be releasing another sports romcom hybrid movie, Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story, which will incorporate the Buffalo Bills into the storyline. The partnership will include fan activities, co-branded merchandise, and promotions across various platforms, while more details will be announced later in the year.
“Because the NFL is involved, the sponsorship opportunities are exclusive to NFL licensed partners,” Georger said. “We know how hot sports are these days.”
Other titles coming out as part of the lineup include the six-episode scripted limited series The Twelve Dates of Christmas, which is the current working title and is based on the novel of the same name by author Jenni Bayliss. The cast includes Mae Whitman, Mary McDonnell, and Jane Seymour.
Another release is Mistletoe Murders, a movie starring and executive produced by Sarah Drew, who plays Emily Lane, a Christmas shop owner who solves local murders.
