Hallmark signs major deals in Taiwan, Korea

(Posted on 14 December 17:30 pm)

Hallmark Entertainment Network on Wednesday signed agreements with two new partners, Videoland in Taiwan and Korea's World Event Network Co. Ltd (WENTV). The move comes just weeks after Hallmark unveiled its extensive channel rebranding under the 'Celebrate Life' tagline.

The addition of these partners adds to the four other affiliates that have joined Hallmark Entertainment Network over the last three months - Sri Lanka's Grant Cable (Pvt), Saarc Media Services Ltd. in Bangladesh, Macau Cable TV and Home Cable in the Philippines.

Videoland will distribute Hallmark on a 24-hour basis to Taiwan's 4 million cable TV homes - 80 per cent of the market's total TV households. Videoland will also represent Hallmark's advertising sales efforts in Taiwan from January 1, 2001.

Launched on October 1, WENTV is one of 15 new cable TV channels licensed by the Korean government. Under the terms of the agreement with Hallmark, WENTV will carry four hours of programming every night during primetime, from 8pm- midnight, beginning the last week of December. The programming will carry Korean subtitles in addition to an English-language soundtrack. WENTV currently has 1 million subscribers - around 60 per cent of Korea's cable TV homes.

Hallmark is attempting a major revamp as part of its effort to have a more significant presence in the Asian region.

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