Hallmark Channel's annual Countdown to Christmas campaign is off and running, with One Starry Christmas, the network's first original premiere of the season, averaging over 3.1 million total viewers and marking its highest-rated and most-watched opening weekend holiday debut of all time and top movie of 2014 to-date. In addition, the film scored a 2.9 HH rtg., making it the #1 cable movie of the week and the #2 cable program of the day, behind only sports.
In its November 1 8-10pm time period, One Starry Christmas took cable by storm, ranking as the #1 program (outside of sports) in key demo ratings, including HH (2.9); w18-49 (1.0); w25-54 (1.5); and total viewers (1.4). The movie was also #1 (excepting sports) in demo delivery among HH (2,499,000) and total viewers (3,088,000). "Every year, new viewers find Countdown to Christmas and make Hallmark Channel's holiday programming a part of their holiday traditions," said Michelle Vicary, executive vice president, programming and network publicity, Crown Media Family Networks. "This past weekend's breakthrough performance clearly demonstrates the strength and momentum of the franchise and further underscores its value to our audience." In One Starry Christmas, aspiring astronomy professor - and Christmas enthusiast - Holly (Sarah Carter) is crushed when her longtime boyfriend Adam (Paul Popowich) schedules a business trip and leaves her alone over the holidays. When she decides to surprise both Adam and her parents with a Christmas visit, however, fate - or perhaps the Christmas spirit - intervenes. Holly's bumpy holiday travel makes a turn onto the road to romance when she and her bus companion, Luke (Damon Runyan), forge an instant connection over their love of constellations and Christmas. In the spirit of the season, Holly invites Luke and his brother Bull (George Canyon) to join her family and Adam for Christmas, which instantly creates a competition between Luke and Adam for Holly's attention. As sparks fly like shooting stars between Holly and Luke, Holly must decide whether to play it safe and stay with Adam, or to thank her lucky stars for the Christmas gift of romance with Luke.Videos