Feel-good films for all! After decades of being the ruler of holiday movies, Hallmark Channel found itself competing for Christmas viewership at the hands of GAC Media.
When former CEO of Crown Media Family Networks (Hallmark Channel’s parent company) Bill Abbott acquired GAC, originally Great American Country, in June 2021, the landscape of cheerful seasonal films changed.
In fact, Hallmark has now found itself battling to see which of its stars will push the brand forward and which ones will jump ship for GAC Media — which has two channels, GAC Family and GAC Living.
One month after GAC Media launched its two channels, the first hit to the Hallmark roster came in the form of Danica McKellar signing a multi-picture deal with the competition.
“Danica is a world-class talent who is among TV’s most beloved and enduring stars,” Abbott said in an October 2021 press release. “Her combination of creativity and passion is second to none, and I am thrilled to have her join GAC’s close-knit family.”
While some other Hallmark stars joined McKellar in GAC Media’s holiday lineup during the fall and winter of 2021, it wasn’t until early 2022 that Crown Media began making moves of its own.
Hallmark’s parent company announced in February 2022 that it cemented a deal with Lacey Chabert, who is the star of one of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries franchises, signaling that they weren’t backing down from GAC’s fight over talent.
“Lacey’s warmth, talent, relatability, and creative sensibilities have endeared her to millions of Hallmark viewers for more than ten years, making her one of our most in-demand stars,” EVP of programming at Crown Media Family Networks, Lisa Hamilton Daly, said in a press release. “In addition to shining on screen, Lacey is a prolific behind-the-scenes creative partner, developing and executive producing many of our highest-quality, most-beloved projects of all time.”
Hallmark Channel fans, however, didn’t see it coming when two months later, Candace Cameron Bure announced that she was switching to GAC Media. The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries star had been in 18 of the mysteries movies for the network and was dubbed the “Queen of Christmas” for her holiday work ahead of her departure.
“I make them because I love them,” Cameron Bure exclusively told Us Weekly in November 2021 ahead of the release of her final holiday film for Hallmark. “And I know that the viewers that watch them really love them, and they mean something to them.”
Scroll down to see which of your favorite Hallmark Channel and GAC Media stars stand with their respective networks:
Ahead of GAC’s launch, Mowry-Housley cemented her place within the Crown Media family in November 2020. The Sister, Sister alum signed an overall deal to star and executive produce a batch of new projects for Hallmark and joined Home & Family in December 2020 as a contributor. ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Allister Foster
The former Hallmark Matchmaker Mysteries star inked a deal in October 2021 with GAC Media. Her exclusive four-picture agreement included an executive producer role on original films for both GAC Family and GAC Living. McKellar, who was last seen in Hallmark’s You, Me & the Christmas Trees, made her GAC debut with January 2022’s The Winter Palace. Copyright 2017 Crown Media United States LLC/David Owen Strongman
In October 2021, the 90210 alum signed an overall deal with GAC Media after previously starring in 12 Hallmark movies. His new deal included both acting and working as an executive producer for the network. Donovan’s first GAC Family film, Jingle Bell Christmas, debuted in December 2021. ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Kim Nunneley/Alexx Henry Studios, LLC
The A Perfect Christmas actress inked a four-film deal with GAC Media in October 2021. In addition to starring in the original movies, Abromeit will host GAC Family Original Movie Nights. That same month, the Massachusetts native made her GAC Family debut with Much Ado About Christmas. 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Brooke Palmer
Crown Media cut tied with the Full House alum following her arrest and involvement in the college admission scandal in 2019. Loughlin, who was the star of the network’s long-running series When Calls the Heart, made her return to TV in December 2021 on GAC Family’s two-part Christmas special for When Hope Calls. The new network announced earlier that year that Loughlin would reprise her role of Abigail Stanton on season 2 of the spinoff. ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Kailey Schwermann
GAC Media announced in January 2022 that Lilley would be starring in four original movies for the network over the next two years. Unlike many of her former Hallmark costars, the General Hospital alum’s multi-picture deal didn’t say it was exclusive to the company. Lilley was last seen in 2022’s Where Your Heart Belongs on Hallmark Channel. ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Alexx Henry/Alexx Henry Studios, LLC
The Mean Girls actress made an exclusive multi-picture deal with Crown Media Family Networks in February 2022. Her deal includes headlining projects for Hallmark Channel over the next two years, working as an executive producer and “developing other content” for the network and “other Hallmark platforms,” according to a press release. Chabert is best known for her work on The Crossword Mysteries franchise, the All of My Heart trilogy and the 2022 Wedding Veil trilogy. ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Alexx Henry/Alexx Henry Studios, LLC
After starring in GAC Family’s Harmony From The Heart in February 2022, Lowndes cemented her future with the network by signing a four-picture deal. The 90210 alum will star, write, direct and executive produce all the projects. Lowndes previously collaborated with GAC Family as the star and executive producer 2021’s Angel Falls Christmas. Her last Hallmark movie was 2021’s Mix Up in the Mediterranean. ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Michael Underwood
The Morning Show Mysteries star signed a multi-picture deal with Hallmark Family in March 2022, which included an exclusivity clause on holiday films for the network. In addition to her detective film franchise for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Robinson Peete has been a staple for the network when it comes to holiday movies, including 2021’s Our Christmas Journey and 2020’s The Christmas Doctor. ©2021 Crown Media United States LLC/Luba Popovic
The Hallmark veteran agreed to an exclusive, multi-picture overall deal with Crown Media Family Networks in March 2022. The Cedar Cove alum is best known for being part of the Crossword Mysteries movie franchise, The Flower Shop Mysteries films and the All of My Heart trilogy, which also stars Chabert. ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Alexx Henry/Alexx Henry Studios, LLC
The Roswell, New Mexico alum inked an exclusive deal in March 2022 with Hallmark Channel’s parent company to star in multiple original films. Hemmens previously starred in Love, Take Two and Christmas in My Heart. ©2021 Crown Media United States LLC/Daniel Haber
The Full House alum, who was a staple on Hallmark Channel for years starring in the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries franchise and 10 holiday films, announced her switch to GAC Media in April 2022. Under her Candy Rock Entertainment production company, Cameron Bure will develop, produce and star in movies and television across GAC Family and GAC Living, taking on a “prominent executive role at the company to oversee and curate programming for the networks as a whole,” according to a press release. Her contract originally stated it would be exclusive to rom-coms and holiday films, but Hallmark later announced that they had no plans to make another Aurora Teagarden film with the former child star. ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Alexx Henry/Alexx Henry Studios, LLC
Walker announced his exclusive multi-picture deal for Hallmark and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries in April 2022, shortly after his detective film Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate premiered. The Canadian actor has been part of the Crown Media Family Networks for more than a decade, starring The Perfect Catch, Bottled With Love and more. ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Rachel Framingheddu Murray
The Summerland alum’s exclusive multi-picture with Hallmark Channel’s parent company was announced in April 2022. Cole is best known for starring on the network’s One Winter films, including One Winter Proposal, as well as 2021 hits Making Spirits Bright and South Beach Love. ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Alexx Henry/Alexx Henry Studios, LLC
The Friday Night Lights alum signed an exclusive multi-picture overall deal with Crown Media Family Networks in April 2022. She previously starred in Hallmark Channel’s My Christmas Family Tree, A New Year’s Resolution, and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ Heart of the Matter, which premieres in May 2022. ©2021 Crown Media United States LLC/Allister Foster
Mathison’s future with Hallmark is up in the air after the network’s talk show, Home & Family, was canceled in March 2021. The soap opera star was the cohost of the series from 2013 to 2021. Mathison later hosted GAC Media’s Welcome to Great American Christmas special that same year and starred in A Kindhearted Christmas. He has, however, remained a fixture on Hallmark Channel as well, reprising his role as Detective Mike Kingston for 2021’s Hannah Swensen Mysteries’ first film, Sweet Revenge. The mystery movie is a continuation of the Murder, She Baked series, which Mathison starred on from 2015 to 2017. GAC Media announced in May 2022 that Mathison would be teaming up with Jill Wagner to film an upcoming holiday movie for the network titled The Christmas Farm. ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Steven Ackerman
Sweeney has been part of the Hallmark Channel family for years, starring in the Murder, She Baked and The Chronicle Mysteries franchises. The Days of Our Lives star appeared in multiple holiday movies for the network before reprising her role as Hannah Swensen in 2021’s Sweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. She seemingly cemented her connection to the company by starring alongside Chabert and Autumn Reeser in The Wedding Veil trilogy in early 2022. ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Alexx Henry/Alexx Henry Studios, LLC
Hynes has starred in more than a dozen Hallmark movies over the years, including four 2021 films. He was the lead in An Unexpected Christmas which he followed up with April 2022’s Always Amore. The Canada native’s next movie with the network has yet to be announced. ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Alexx Henry/Alexx Henry Studios, LLC
The O.C. alum has become a big star for Hallmark over the past few years, starring in three 2019 movies for the channel. She upped her output in 2022 appearing in The Wedding Veil trilogy as well as costarring alongside Hynes in April’s Always Amore. Reeser has served as an executive producer on both 2021’s The 27-Hour Day and 2022’s The Wedding Veil Unveiled, which could mean she will be staying with Hallmark for the long haul. ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Rachel Framingheddu Murray
Matter’s role as Nick Miller on the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries franchise may have been put on pause after Cameron Bure’s switch to GAC Media, but he appears to still be working well with Hallmark. The actor is the star of May 2022’s Rip in Time and has a history of hit Christmas movies for the network. ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Ricardo Hubbs
The North Carolina native has been part of the Hallmark family since 2015. Some of her biggest holiday films include the Christmas in Evergreen franchise, Hearts of Winter and The Angel Tree. The actress is best known for playing professor Amy Winslow — alongside Kristoffer Polaha as detective Travis Burke — in the Mystery 101 movie franchise. The last film of the mystery series, Deadly History, was released in 2021, but its cliffhanger ending lead fans to believe more movies could be coming. In May 2022, GAC Media announced that Wagner would be working alongside Mathison on an upcoming holiday film, The Christmas Farm, which is set to premiere as part of GAC Family’s annual “Great American Christmas” celebration that fall. Crown Media United States
The Brothers & Sisters alum signed a multi-picture deal with Crown Media Family Networks in May 2022. “I’m excited to be part of the joy that Hallmark brings to their viewers, not only for Christmas but to be able to participate in telling these heartfelt stories all year long,” Macfarlane said in a statement to Deadline. “I’m really grateful to have this opportunity.” Macfarlane has cemented himself as a Hallmark Channel favorite after starring in Just Add Romance, A Valentine’s Match, Taking a Shot at Love and Christmas in My Heart. He is set to appear in Hallmark Channel’s June 2022 release Moriah’s Lighthouse. Crown Media United States
The California native inked an exclusive multi-picture deal with Crown Media Family Networks in May 2022, ahead of the release of the June 2022 release of Hallmark’s Two Tickets to Paradise. “Being part of Hallmark is like no other experience I have ever had,” Paevey said in a statement. “The creative people I’ve had the pleasure of working with both at the network and on every set have made this collaboration so special and I can’t wait to see what’s next.” Hallmark viewers may recognize Paevey as Donovan Darcy in the Marrying Mr. Darcy movie franchise. He has also appeared in holiday hits for the network, including Christmas at the Plaza and Coyote Creek Christmas. Eike Schroter/Crown Media
Krakow has been starring on Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart since 2014. The long-running series was renewed for a season 10 in June 2022 so Krakow’s future with the network is looking bright. The Pennsylvania native has become a holiday film staple over the years, helming the Father Christmas movies and 2019’s Sense, Sensibility & Snowman. Her most recent film for the network is 2021’s It Was Always You. Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Ricardo Hubbs
McGarry is one of the leading men on When Calls the Heart, which was renewed in June 2022 for season 10 by Hallmark. In addition to playing Nathan Grant on the series, the actor starred in three movies for the network in 2022: The Wedding Veil, The Wedding Veil Legacy and Feeling Butterflies. ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Johnson Production Group
The Canadian actor appeared in multiple Hallmark Channel films before landing the role of Lucas Bouchard on When Calls the Heart in 2019. Since the series got picked up for another season in June 2022, fans will hopefully be seeing McNally return as one of the show’s leading men. He has also continued to take part in movies from the beloved network, including April 2022’s A Tail of Love. ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Deon Nel
In June 2022, MacDowell was announced as the star of the upcoming Hallmark Channel series The Way Home. The primetime show is the first new series to get picked up by the network since 2016, marking a big shift in programming for Crown Media Family Networks. The South Carolina native will play small-town community pilar Del Landry, who is estranged from her daughter, when the show premieres in 2023. MacDowell has a long history with Hallmark, having portrayed judge Olivia Lockhart on Cedar Cove from 2013 to 2015. She also starred in the network’s hit films At Home in Mitford and The Beach House. “Our viewers loved Andie MacDowell when she starred in Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove, our first original primetime series,” senior vice president of development at Crown Media Family Networks, Laurie Ferneau said in a statement. “We couldn’t be happier to welcome her home to Hallmark Channel and we know our fans will fall in love with her all over again.” Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Nino Munoz
The married couple have costarred in several Hallmark films together, including Enchanted Christmas, Love at Sea and the Picture Perfect Mysteries franchise. The pair are set to star in the network’s Love in the Limelight in August 2022, according to Entertainment Tonight, with the Big Time Rush performer writing several original songs for it. Broadimage/Shutterstock
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