Hallmark ties up with Telewest Broadband

Our Convergence Bureau
22 August 2002

Mumbai: Hallmark Channel has signed a carriage agreement with Telewest Broadband to secure its place across all major digital platforms.

The long-term carriage deal means an additional 500,000 viewers will be able to see Hallmark as part of Telewest Broadband’s ‘essential plus’ package. The combined channels will now reach over 7 million digital subscribers from 2 September 2002.

Hallmark Channel (UK) chief executive Jeff Henry says: “The completion of this agreement with Telewest Broadband means we’ve reached our goal of maximum distribution. The fact that we’re now carried across all digital platforms is a testament to the strength of our channel over the past two years and we’re very much looking forward to a constructive partnership with Telewest Broadband.”

Telewest Broadband sales and marketing director David Hobday says: “This is great news for our customers who can now watch the best mix of family-friendly entertainment from Hallmark. The channel provides compelling programming that complements our existing channel line-up and further enhances our customer’s experience of digital TV.”

Hallmark Channel is a 24-hour television network that provides high-quality entertainment programming across all digital platforms and is available on ntl:home, Sky Digital and Telewest Broadband channel 190.

The UK channel was launched in May 2000 on Sky Digital, securing carriage with ntl:home in November 2001. In the past year Hallmark has seen its audience share increase by more than 140 per cent year on year (source: BARB: Adults).