Odyssey Network

This article is about the U.S. network. For the Canadian Greek-language network, see Odyssey Television Network. For other uses, see Odyssey (disambiguation).

Odyssey Network
Launched	1984 as ACTS
Owned by	The Jim Henson Co. (1998-2000) Crown Media (1998-2001)

The Odyssey Network was a cable television network that was launched in 1996.

History

• 1984: The channel was launched as ACTS;
• 1988: VISN was launched as a television network;
• 1992: VISN and ACTS shared time beginning in 1992 as VISN-ACTS;
• 1993: VISN-ACTS was renamed the Faith and Values Channel;
• 1996: Faith and Values became Odyssey Network;
• 1996: More secular programming was started when the channel was renamed Odyssey Network, using the domain name [Odysseyfamily.com] for posting TV listings;
• 1998: Odyssey Network was purchased by Hallmark Entertainment, a division of Hallmark Cards, and The Jim Henson Company (TJHC) in November. Their slogan was "A Hallmark & Henson Network" until 2001;
• 2000: TJHC sold half of the channel to Crown Media, a division of Hallmark. The channel withdrew most of Henson's programs due to them selling half of the channel;
• 2001: The channel was officially renamed "The Hallmark Channel" on August 5, 2001.

This also meant that The Kermit Channel in Asia was changed into Hallmark Channel itself because of EM.TV who owned The Jim Henson Company until 2003. After the buyout, Henson's programming still aired until Hallmark Channel wanted to air more mature programming.

Programming

• ALF (1998-2001)
• Donna's Day
• Fraggle Rock (1998-2001)
• Fraggle Rock (animated TV series) (1999-2001)
• Hey, Cinderella!
• Jim Henson's Muppet Babies (1999-2000)
• Odyssey Network Presents (1996-present)
• The Muppet Show (1999-2001, the show aired on Hallmark Channel after the buyout until 2003)
• The Muppet Movie
• The Great Muppet Caper