Hallmark exec answers whether Countdown to Christmas will be on Hallmark+

For those of us who frequent Hallmark Channel--and its other iterations Hallmark Family and Hallmark Mysteries--the launch of Hallmark+ in September is very much on our minds.

The revamped platform, which will close the door on the moniker Hallmark Movies Now in a matter of months, is said to be a service that combines the needs of the consumer with that of a viewer. In other words, there's a member benefits program that will have real world value including reward points that can be used in stores and surprise gifts.

All of that is well and good but at the forefront of our thoughts is the content that's going to be made available on Hallmark+. We can anticipate the release of The Chicken Sisters, the brand's first holiday TV series Holidazed, the movie trilogy Groomsmen and more but the question left hanging was whether or not the Hallmark Channel staple 'Countdown to Christmas' will also stream.

The network boasts the premier movie slate for the holidays. While we may bounce over to see what Lifetime has on offer--or for others Great American Family and UPtv--Hallmark Channel has a roster of films and new releases during the holiday season that has people coming back for more year after year. But if you were hoping to be able to stream them on Hallmark+, that's not going to be an option.

Lisa Hamilton Daly, EVP of programming at Hallmark Media, confirmed as much to Variety.

"‘Countdown to Christmas’ remains a linear experience. The content on the app is going to be ‘Holidazed,’ ‘Mistletoe Murders,’ our unscripted shows and a couple of movie trilogies coming up that we haven’t announced yet. There’s going to be a bunch of holiday content, but it’s going to be separate and different from what’s on linear."

It seems Hallmark Media wants to establish that while the linear channels and streaming platform fall under the same umbrella, they will have largely distinct and separate offerings i.e. content exclusive to their own audiences. In line with this is the fact that you won't be able to watch the linear channels live on Hallmark+ like you can on Peacock. So, while the streamer will have a large library of Hallmark movies, the 40 new films set to debut during Countdown to Christmas won't be included.

It's unknown whether Hallmark+ originals will eventually have release windows on the linear channels in order to entice Hallmark TV viewers. Paramount+, Hulu, and Disney+ have done so on CBS and ABC to fill schedule slots during summer and winter lulls on broadcast. Perhaps Hallmark+ will follow suit.

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