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Henson and Hallmark form the Kermit Channel

Courtesy of The Jim Henson Company
May 13, 1998

The Jim Henson Company and Hallmark Entertainment will launch the Kermit Channel, a 24-hour, global pay-television channel featuring  general family entertainment from The Jim Henson Company and Hallmark Entertainment, as announced today by Brian Henson, President and CEO and Charles Rivkin, President and COO of The Jim Henson Company and Robert Halmi, Jr., Hallmark Entertainment's CEO. Each company will have 50% ownership in the new global channel and will utilize original programming from both The Jim Henson Company's and Hallmark Entertainment's library of award-winning family and children's television. As a result of this joint venture, both companies will  also produce new programming to be featured on the 24-hour family  entertainment channel.

The Kermit Channel will launch September 1, 1998 throughout Asia and Latin America, with most international affiliates of Hallmark Entertainment's 24-hour global pay-television service, Hallmark Entertainment Network, carrying the new channel. Additional worldwide territory launches will follow.

Commenting on the deal, Brian Henson said, "The creation of the Kermit Channel is something that we have been working toward for quite some time. Our international cable network is an incredible exciting step for us, and having successfully worked with Hallmark  Entertainment over the years, ("Gulliver's Travels" - produced in association with The Jim Henson Company, "The Odyssey" and the recent hit "Merlin"), we know they share the same sensibility when it comes to making quality entertainment."

Concerning the financial agreement, Robert Halmi declined to discuss the amount of money Hallmark and Henson are putting into the Kermit Network. "We're both private companies," he said. "So we're shy about revealing" dollar figures.

All operations for the Kermit Channel will be based in Englewood, Colorado, headquarters for the Hallmark Entertainment Network. Hallmark Entertainment Network is the rapidly expanding 24-hour pay television service that delivers quality, award-winning,   made-for-television movies and miniseries, produced by Hallmark Entertainment. Currently distributed in over 50 countries in 14 languages, the network can be visited on the world wide web at www.hallmarknetwork.com.