HALLMARK CHANNEL'S #1-RATED "COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS" PROGRAMMING EVENT STARTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31

17 New Original Movies, Including the Directorial Debut of Grammy-Winning Superstar Mariah Carey in "A Christmas Melody"

Special Thanksgiving Week of Programming With Five Original Premieres

"Countdown To Christmas" seen by 74 Million Viewers in 2014

STUDIO CITY - October 7, 2015 -- Hallmark Channel's annual 'COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS' event returns with 55 continuous days of holiday-themed entertainment for the whole family, featuring more than 1300 hours of content and an all-star line-up of 17 original holiday-themed movie premieres. In 2014, Countdown to Christmas brought 74 million viewers to the network in November and December, making Hallmark Channel #1 among households and key demos. Helping to drive the record ratings was the original movie "Christmas Under Wraps" starring Candace Cameron Bure (11/29/14), which delivered 6.3 million total viewers in Live +3.

This year's line-up features the directorial debut of Grammy-winning superstar Mariah Carey in the original film, "A Christmas Melody" airing December 19, in which she will also star.

Hallmark is expanding the holiday viewing tradition with its first ever Thanksgiving Week stuffed full of five new Hallmark Channel original movies, including the world premiere of Candace Cameron Bure's "A Christmas Detour" on Saturday, November 28. The movie tells the story of two New York City-bound travelers who find themselves inextricably linked when a snowstorm reroutes them to an airport hotel in Buffalo.

The holiday fun continues with Lori Loughlin, Dermot Mulroney and Bailee Madison in "Northpole: Open for Christmas," premiering November 21 and continuing the story of the charming and uplifting elf named Clementine.

Viewers will also see original films starring Julie Benz, Katie Findlay, Faith Ford, Shenae Grimes-Beech, Danica McKellar, Christopher Lloyd, Wyatt Nash and William Shatner, to name just a few of the talent across Hallmark's 17 original offerings.

"Hallmark Channel has established 'Countdown To Christmas' as a beloved and important holiday tradition for families nationwide," said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. "We are honored to be a part of these celebrations by telling uplifting holiday stories that are a testament of the spirit of the season."

Christmas 2015 begins on Halloween Night, October 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel with the holiday staple, "Home Alone." The next day, Hallmark Channel begins its launch of original titles. "Countdown To Christmas" original movie premieres for 2015 are as follows:

"Tis The Season For Love," starring Sarah Lancaster and Brendan Penny, Sunday, November 1 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"Ice Sculpture Christmas," starring Rachel Boston and Emmy(R) Nominee Brenda Strong, Saturday, November 7 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"Charming Christmas," starring Julie Benz and David Sutcliffe, Sunday, November 8 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"I'm Not Ready For Christmas," starring Alicia Witt, George Stults, Brigid Brannagh, Dan Lauria and Maxwell Caulfield, Saturday, November 14 (8 p.m.ET/PT, 7C);

"Christmas Incorporated," starring Shenae Grimes-Beech and Steve Lund, Sunday, November 15 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"Northpole: Open for Christmas," starring Lori Loughlin, Dermot Mulroney and Bailee Madison, Saturday, November 21 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"Merry Matrimony," starring Jessica Lowndes and Christopher Russell, Sunday, November 22 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"Once Upon A Holiday," starring Briana Evigan, Paul Campbell and Greg Evigan, Wednesday, November 25 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"The 12 Gifts of Christmas," starring Katrina Law, Aaron O'Connell and Donna Mills, Thursday, November 26 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"Crown For Christmas," starring Danica McKellar, Friday, November 27 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"A Christmas Detour," starring Candace Cameron Bure, Paul Greene, Sarah Strange and David Lewis, Saturday, November 28 (8 p.m. ET/PT,7C);

"Angel of Christmas," starring Jennifer Finnigan, Jonathan Scarfe and Holly Robinson Peete, Sunday, November 29 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C).

Hallmark Hall of Fame's "Just in Time for Christmas," starring Eloise Mumford, Michael Stahl-David, William Shatner and Christopher Lloyd, Saturday, December 5 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"Karen Kingsbury's The Bridge," starring Katie Findlay, Wyatt Nash, Ted McGinley and Faith Ford, Sunday, December 6 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"On the Twelfth Day of Christmas," starring Brooke Nevin and Robin Dunne, Saturday, December 12 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"A Christmas Melody," starring Mariah Carey, Saturday, December 19 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C);

"Christmas Land," Saturday, December 20 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C).

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