"Marie” Heads For Syndication

Hallmark Channel will not renew its afternoon talk show series Marie for a second season, the network announced Tuesday, according to multichannel.com

The daily talk show series, starring singer/TV personality Marie Osmond, was launched last September as a replacement for The Martha Stewart Show after the network pulled Stewart due to poor ratings. The network said in a statement that it is moving in a different direction with its daytime programming format toward more “lifestyle” like its Home & Family series.

However,  Associated Television International will take the series out into syndication for fall 2014.

"We always believed that in order for the Marie Osmond talk show to flourish and resonate with viewers across the nation, we would embark on a multi-platform strategy incorporating broadcast, cable and digital opportunities," stated Jim Romanovich, ATI's president, worldwide entertainment. 

"Our initial exposure on Hallmark Channel provided the perfect launching ground, and we're delighted with the unprecedented media attention Marie and the program has enjoyed. Based on the interest and requests from many groups and key stations across the country, next fall, we're making Marie available to several outlets.  We're excited to bring one of America's most beloved icons to viewers in a big way."

Hallmark will continue to air new Marie episodes through August and then will offer encore episodes through the fall beginning Sept. 28, said the network. It’s unclear what show will take over Marie’s afternoon timeslot.

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