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5.19.08

Crown Media Taps Broadcast Facilities’ Andrita Media Center To Support New HD Network

Andrita Providing Full Playback Origination Capability for Hallmark Movie Channel HD

 

(Los Angeles, Calif. – May 19, 2008) – Broadcast Facilities, Inc. (BFI), owner and operator of Andrita Media Center, the largest independent High Definition (HD) digital media facility on the West Coast, today announced an agreement with Crown Media United States, LLC to provide full HD network playback for the newly-launched Hallmark Movie Channel HD.

 

As part of the relationship, Andrita expanded its state-of-the art HD network playback center to support the origination of the Hallmark Movie Channel’s extensive original and library movie content in HD on a 24/7 basis. The network playback services provided by Andrita also include multiple automated HD graphics insertion. Andrita’s support of the Hallmark Movie Channel underscores its unique position as a large-scale, independent facility equipped with the technology and engineering talent to help top content providers originate and uplink content as they deploy new HD networks.

 

“The Hallmark Movie Channel adds another household name to our growing roster of HD programmers which join the extensive SD networks that we currently originate. We look forward to rewarding Crown’s confidence in our ability to meet their HD media requirements,” commented Bill Tillson, President and COO, BFI. “HD deployment is accelerating industrywide and Andrita is unique among independent studios for its capabilities in supporting networks of all sizes create and launch their programming quickly.”

 

Jim Bennett, Vice President, Technical Operations, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel, commented, “I have worked with Andrita’s engineering and operations staff for several years. We selected Andrita to launch the Hallmark Movie Channel HD because of our confidence in their team along with their ability to meet our very demanding timeline.”

 

About Crown Media Holdings
Crown Media Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWN) owns and operates cable television channels dedicated to high quality, broad appeal, entertainment programming. The Company, through its subsidiary, Crown Media United States, LLC, currently operates and distributes Hallmark Channel in the U.S. to approximately 84 million subscribers. The top tier program service is distributed through 5,450 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country. Hallmark Channel consistently ranks among the top ten ad-supported cable networks in Total Day and Prime Time household ratings and is the nation's leading network in providing quality family programming. Crown Media also operates a second 24-hour linear channel, Hallmark Movie Channel, which is distributed in both standard and high definition as Hallmark Movie Channel HD. Significant investors in Crown Media Holdings include: Hallmark Entertainment Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Incorporated, Liberty Media Corp., and J.P. Morgan Partners (BHCA), LP, each through their investments in Hallmark Entertainment Investments Co.; VISN Management Corp., a for-profit subsidiary of the National Interfaith Cable Coalition; and The DIRECTV Group, Inc.