Christmas Movie Wars | Once Upon A Christmas Ratings Hit | 2

Business Wars

Wondery

History, Business, David Brown, Management

4.6 • 13.2K Ratings

🗓️ 6 December 2021

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 1951, the founder of Hallmark Cards, the successful greeting card company, decides to get into television by sponsoring a live opera airing on Christmas Eve. It’s a success, and Hallmark becomes a regular sponsor of television programming for decades. But when they launch their own cable channel in the early 2000s, the picture isn’t so rosy. By 2005, they’re considering selling the channel, but once again Christmas programming saves the day.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to business wars at free on Amazon music.
0:04.6	Download the app today.
0:07.0	It's Christmas Eve, 1951, New York City.
0:22.7	Sixty-year-old JC Hall sits in the corner of studio 8H in Rockefeller Center.
0:28.9	He leans back in his canvas back director's chair.
0:32.0	His eyebrows raised skeptically.
0:35.0	There's a sinking feeling in his stomach.
0:38.3	What it started as a seat of doubt a few hours ago is now a crater of uncertainty.
0:45.2	Hall and his two brothers founded what is now called Hallmark Cards in 1907.
0:50.9	They started selling postcards in a single storefront in Norfolk, Nebraska.
0:54.9	Now, it's the preeminent reading card company in the country.
0:59.5	For the last three years, the company has been sponsoring radio plays.
1:03.5	But tonight, they're making their television debut presenting the first opera performed
1:08.5	live on television.
1:10.9	Hall's brothers thought the move to TV was too risky, but Hall likes to innovate.
1:17.3	As he watches the chaos unfold around him though, he's starting to think his brothers were
1:22.6	right.
1:24.5	A boy around 12 runs by with no shirt.
1:27.4	His mother follows waving clothing.
1:29.5	Chad, get back here.
1:31.4	You were supposed to be in costume six minutes ago.
1:34.7	Hall checks his watch.
	...

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