• by David Goetzl , July 7, 2011

The Hallmark Hall of Fame franchise, born during the Truman Administration, is moving to ABC this season after ending its run on CBS this spring. Under a multi-year deal, the movies will debut on ABC, then air a week later on the Hallmark Channel.

The networks will work together on promotions. The 60-year-old Hall of Fame will now have been on NBC, CBS (twice), PBS and ABC (twice).

Bill Abbott, chief of Hallmark Channel parent Crown Media Networks, stated: "This will bring even more exceptional, high-profile programming to our audience, and increase the viewership and impact of the Hallmark Hall of Fame series. We're delighted to be a partner."

"Have a Little Faith" based on the book by famed author Mitch Albom, will be the first film on ABC. Laurence Fishburne, Bradley Whitford, and Martin Landau will star in the pre-broadcast Christmas broadcast.

After its 1951 launch, the franchise started as a series of specials in 1955. It debuted on NBC in 1951 with "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and ran on the network until 1979.

The series was created as a marketing vehicle for Hallmark Cards.