Crown Media President and CEO David Evans Announces Decision to Leave Company

The Crown Media Board has retained the executive recruiting firmof Spencer Stuart to commence a search for a permanent replacement.Paul FitzPatrick, Executive Vice President and Chief OperatingOfficer, will assume Mr. Evans' responsibilities until a new CEO isnamed.

"I joined Crown Media nearly seven years ago with the excitingchallenge of building a top tier cable channel," remarked Mr. Evans."With the expertise and talent of a group of exceptional executives,and their respective teams, we have achieved this goal. I feel trulyfortunate for the experience of having taken this journey with them,and I am confident that they can take Hallmark Channel to the nextlevel of success. I am very proud of our accomplishments, and I amlooking forward to embarking upon new opportunities in the mediaindustry. "

"Under David's leadership, the development and launch of HallmarkChannel has accomplished an impressive record of ratings success andadvertiser support," said Don Hall, Jr., co-Chairman of the Board ofCrown Media and President and CEO of Hallmark Cards, Inc. "David hasbuilt a strong management team that is committed to expanding on thesuccess of this unique channel."

Since 1999, Mr. Evans has led Hallmark Channel to its position asa top ten-ranked cable network, and has overseen the growth of itsdistribution to 73 million subscribers, making the channel thefastest-growing ad-supported cable network since its launch. Until thesale of the international operations of Crown Media in 2005, HallmarkChannel was also distributed to more than 122 countries worldwide,reaching a combined audience of over 125 million subscribers. UnderEvans' direction, Crown Media also acquired and successfullydistributes a television and film library of 600 titles.

Mr. Evans will continue to serve on the boards of British SkyBroadcasting, operator of U.K.'s largest digital platform and JohnFairfax Holdings Limited, Australia's largest newspaper publishinggroup.

About Crown Media Holdings

Crown Media Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWN) owns and operates cabletelevision channels dedicated to high quality, broad appeal,entertainment programming. The Company currently operates anddistributes the Hallmark Channel in the U.S. to 73 millionsubscribers. The program service is distributed in over 5,300 cablesystems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite servicesacross the country. In 2005, Crown launched its second 24-hour linearchannel, Hallmark Movie Channel. Through its subsidiary, Crown MediaDistribution, LLC, Crown also distributes titles in the U.S. from itsaward-winning collection of movies, mini-series and films forexhibition in a variety of television media including broadcast,cable, video-on-demand and high definition television. Significantinvestors in Crown Media Holdings include: Hallmark EntertainmentHoldings, Inc., a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Incorporated, LibertyMedia Corp., and J.P. Morgan Partners (BHCA), LP, each through theirinvestments in Hallmark Entertainment Investments Co.; VISN ManagementCorp., a for-profit subsidiary of the National Interfaith CableCoalition; and The DIRECTV Group, Inc.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release may containforward-looking statements as contemplated by the 1995 PrivateSecurities Litigation Reform Act that are based on management'scurrent expectations, estimates and projections. Words such as"expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates,"variations of such words and similar expressions are intended toidentify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statementsare subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actualresults to differ materially from those projected or implied in theforward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include:competition for distribution of channels, viewers, advertisers, andthe acquisition of programming; fluctuations in the availability ofprogramming; fluctuations in demand for the programming Crown Mediaairs on its channels; and other risks detailed in the Company'sfilings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including theRisk Factors stated in the Company's 10-K Report for the year endedDecember 31, 2005. Crown Media Holdings is not undertaking anyobligation to release publicly any updates to any forward lookingstatements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of thisrelease or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.