William J. Abbott

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William J. Abbott
Born (1962-04-25) April 25, 1962 (age 61)
Alma materCollege of the Holy Cross (BA)
Title
  • CEO of
    Crown Media
    Family Networks (2009–2020)
  • President/CEO of Great American Media (2021–present)
  • CEO of
    Pure Flix
    (2023–present)
SpouseShannon
Children4
AwardsCablefax 100 (2009—2016)

William J. "Bill" Abbott (born April 25, 1962) is the President and CEO of

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. When he became Crown Media CEO in 2009, he spearheaded the addition of scripted series for primetime, including Cedar Cove and When Calls the Heart, as well as the launch of the yearly special Kitten Bowl. Abbott has been featured in the Cablefax 100 list of top power players every year from 2009 through 2016.[1] He also received the Diversity Partner Award from the T. Howard Foundation in 2016.[2]

Early life and career

Abbott grew up on

Odyssey Network as it transitioned to Hallmark Channel.[3]

Crown Media

Abbott joined Crown Media Family Networks in 2000 as its executive

Hallmark Movie Channel
. During his tenure as EVP of advertising sales, Hallmark Channel's annual advertising revenue increased from $10.2 million to $223 million.

As CEO

Abbott succeeded Henry Schleiff as president and CEO of Crown Media, June 1, 2009.[6][7] In his first year, Abbott made a deal with Martha Stewart to create a lifestyle block on Hallmark Channel that premiered in March 2010.[3] The following year, Abbott launched Hallmark's "Countdown to Christmas" campaign, and in 2015 featured Mariah Carey in her directorial debut in A Christmas Melody, with 17 new original movies.[8]

In 2012, he revived the daytime Emmy-nominated lifestyle program

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.[10]

In January 2020, Abbott stepped down as CEO of Crown Media, a little more than a month after the network apologized for removing advertisements featuring same-sex couples from the air which were restored a few days after being removed [11][12][13]

Great American Media

In June 2021, Abbott became a partner with

Ride TV.[14] GAC was relaunched as GAC Family in September 2021,[15] repositioning it as a family-oriented network with a similar format to Hallmark Channel. The network acquired the When Calls the Heart spin-off When Hope Calls, and began hiring talent associated with Hallmark Channel productions to appear in its own competing slate of made-for-TV movies (with the channel establishing "Great American Christmas" as a direct competitor to Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas lineup).[15][16][17][18]

Family

He had been married more than once and has four children; his eldest daughter is from his first marriage.[3]

References

  1. ^ "The Lists". Cablefax.
  2. ^ "800 Media Professionals Celebrate Industry Diversity Strides at THF's Annual Awards Dinner and Fundraiser". T. Howard Foundation. April 1, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e Lafayette, Jon (September 19, 2011). "Wearing the Crown No Easy Job". Broadcasting & Cable.
  4. ^ "Spotlight on the CableFAX 100—Crown Media Family Nets' Bill Abbott". Cablefax. March 9, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "William J. Abbott" (PDF). Crown Media Family Networks.
  6. ^ Crupi, Anthony (May 6, 2009). "Schleiff to Exit Crown Media's Top Post, Abbott to Helm". Adweek.
  7. ^ Schneider, Michael (May 6, 2009). "Schleiff out as Crown Media CEO". Variety.
  8. ^ Keveney, Bill (September 15, 2015). "Mariah Carey tops Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas". USA Today.
  9. ^ "Emmy Award-Winning Anchor Ernie Anastos and Popular Hallmark Channel Series "When Calls the Heart" to Receive Special Christopher Awards". April 20, 2016. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  10. ^ Hultgren, Kaylee (September 16, 2014). "5Q With Crown Media Family Networks' Bill Abbott". Cablefax.
  11. ^ Mallenbaum, Carly. "Hallmark Channel exec steps down without explanation, one month after same-sex ad flap". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  12. ^ Holcombe, Madeline (28 January 2020). "Hallmark's Crown Media CEO exits one Month after Same-Sex Marriage ad Backlash". southfloridagaynews.com. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  13. ^ "Crown Media President, CEO Bill Abbott Steps Down". ph.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  14. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (June 7, 2021). "Discovery Sells Great American Country To Investor Group With Former Crown Media Chief Bill Abbott As CEO". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Lafayette, Jon (2021-08-26). "Former Hallmark Head Bill Abbott Renames Cable Networks To Create Family Friendly GAC Brands". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  16. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (April 19, 2022). "Hallmark Vet Candace Cameron Bure Makes Move to GAC Family, to Develop 'Family and Faith-Filled Programming'". TVLine. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  17. ^ Lafayette, Jon (2022-04-25). "Bill Abbott's GAC Media Unwraps Holiday Plans in Upfront Pitch". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  18. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2021-09-28). "Lori Loughlin To Reprise 'When Calls the Heart' Character In Season 2 Of 'When Hope Calls' On GAC Family In Acting Return". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-10-16.

External links

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