Blink.(Henry Schleiff of Crown Media Holdings Inc. markets Hallmark Channel to Mediacom Communications Corp.)(NBA Entertainment commercials to show Red Auerbach)(Fox Television Studios's 24 does not go well with the Army)

TelevisionWeek, February, 2007

Schleiff's Next Act: Selling Ice to Eskimos? Leave it to smooth-talking cable network veteran Henry Schleiff to try to create leverage out of no leverage. One of Mr. Schleiff's first priorities after becoming CEO of Crown Media Holdings was to get new carriage deals for the Hallmark Channel because most of its old deals expire this year.

Last week, Hallmark signed a deal with cable operator Mediacom that pays fees somewhat more than the paltry 11 cents per subscriber the channel had been getting, but substantially less than the 35 to 40 cents some other networks with similar ratings command. Mr. Schleiff's pitch? Cable operators should hurry to strike similar deals now, while Hallmark is an independent, rather than wait until it gets acquired by a media company...

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