Hallmark Channel launched in September 1992 and has its roots in the American Christian Television System and the Vision Interfaith Satellite Network. Over time, it shifted away from religious programming toward family-friendly entertainment. Today, it is one of America’s most recognized cable channels for wholesome, heartwarming content. 

The channel’s biggest draw is its seasonal programming. Every year, Hallmark Channel’s “Countdown to Christmas” event brings viewers weeks of new holiday movies and series. The event, which celebrated its 16th anniversary on the channel in 2025, features nearly 80 hours of all-new programming across 10 weeks. The channel also airs original drama series and acquired reruns year-round. 

While the Hallmark Channel is famous for its family-friendly movies and TV shows, it also offers unscripted shows and reality TV programming. Celebrations with Lacey Chabert is one of Hallmark’s most successful unscripted series, in which Chabert surprises deserving community members with elaborate celebrations. 

Finding Mr. Christmas, co-created and hosted by Jonathan Bennett, is Hallmark’s first-ever reality competition series, challenging aspiring actors for a starring role in a Countdown to Christmas movie. The channel also airs Baked with Love, a family recipe bake-off hosted by Tamera Mowry-Housley. Others include Armed to Build, a community-building unscripted series hosted by Nikki DeLoach and Murder Mystery House, which is hosted by Bennet.