The Hallmark Channel is a cable television

Cable television

Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...

 network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries

Miniseries

A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...

, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family. It is owned by Crown Media Holdings, which in turn is majority-owned by Hallmark Cards

Hallmark Cards

Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....

.

In the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, the network began as two separate religious cable channels, the American Christian Television System

American Christian Television System

The American Christian Television System was a television network developed in the 1980s by the Southern Baptist Convention . Plans for the network involved a combination of low and full-power stations, most of which were to be built, and carriage on local cable TV networks.Religious denominations...

 (ACTS) and the Vision Interfaith Satellite Network

Vision Interfaith Satellite Network

The Vision Interfaith Satellite Network was a religious television network formed in the late 1980s. The channel became known as the PBS of religion for the inclusive nature of its programming, which was designed to "place its accent on dialogue rather than apologies."The network was formed by...

 (VISN).