NEW YORK - Hallmark Channel's hit original series When Calls the Heart kicked off its eighth season on Sunday night, becoming the #1 most-watched original scripted series on ad-supported cable in the year-to-date among Total Viewers and Women 18+. The series premiere episode was the #1 most-watched entertainment cable program of the week among Women 18+, further propelling the network to tie as the #1 most-watched in primetime for the week among Women 18+. The program averaged 3 million Total Viewers and 397,000 Women 25-54 on a L+3 basis.

Key Nielsen Highlights (L+3)

Hallmark Channel's When Calls the Heart Season Eight Premiere

· Averaged 3 million Total Viewers and 397,000 Women 25-54

· Ranked as the #1 most-watched original scripted series in 2021-to-date on ad-supported cable among Total Viewers and Women 18+

· Became the #1 most-watched entertainment program of the week among Women 18+

· Boosted Hallmark Channel to tie as the #1 most-watched entertainment cable network in primetime for the week among Women 18+, and #2 most-watched in Total Day among Women 18+, Total Viewers, and Households

· Program reached nearly 3.5 million unduplicated Total Viewers

Source: Nielsen Live+3 2/15/21-2/21/21, excluding news and sports; Original Scripted Series compares all ad-supported cable programs from 12/28/20-2/21/21, excluding repeats, reality, news & sports