Hallmark Sets Network Ratings Record In November

 Hallmark Channel received an early ratings gift in November, setting an all time viewership record on the strength of its holiday-themed films. 

Hallmark averaged a network best 1.21 million total viewers during the period of Oct. 30 to Nov. 26, according to Nielsen. The network’s annual Countdown to Christmas slate of original movies helped pace the network’s strong performance – through Sunday, Hallmark’s Countdown To Christmas programming has reached nearly 50 million unduplicated viewers, network executives said.

RELATED: Hallmark Channel Sets 'Countdown To Christmas' Special "Every year, awareness and demand for our holiday content grows and this year we are once again hitting all-time highs," said Crown Media Family Networks’ President and CEO Bill Abbott. “The ability to deliver critical mass and audience reach, coupled with the amount of original content we air over an extended two month period establishes 'Countdown to Christmas' as the biggest event in entertainment."

The performance of the network’s 12 holiday films thus far is led by the Nov. 26 airing of the Candace Cameron-Bure starrer Switched For Christmas, which drew 5.2 million viewers – the second most-watched telecast in network history, according to a Hallmark spokeperson.

RELATED: Hallmark Drama Channel Launches Into Headwinds for Linear Networks

Hallmark 2017 Original Holiday Movie Ratings (Through Nov. 26) 

DateMovieTotal Viewers

10/28 Marry Me At Christmas                                3.4 million

11/4   Christmas Festival Of Ice                             3.2 million

11/5   Miss Christmas                                            3.6 million

11/11 The Sweetest Christmas                               3.9 million

11/12 Enchanted Christmas                                   3.6 million

11/18 Coming Home For Christmas                         4.1 million

11/19 A Gift To Remember                                     3.9 million

11/22 With Love Christmas                                     3.6 million

11/23 The Mistletoe Inn                                         3.4 million

11/24 Finding Santa                                              4.1 million

11/25 The Christmas Train                                     4.9 million

11/26 Switched for Christmas                                5.2 million

Source: Nielsen, Hallmark Channel

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.