Bill Abbott is president and chief executive of Crown Media Family Networks – one of the most successful entertainment companies in the US and the team behind the Hallmark Channels. In his two decades with the business, it has expanded exponentially and now includes three top-rated channels, e-book publishing, a podcast and a streaming service with over 600,000 subscribers. In this in-depth interview, Bill tackles critics who call their content “saccharine”, and examines how their commitment to the ‘formula’ has delivered consistently high ratings; explains why they listen to feedback from focus groups when deciding storylines; and describes the brand’s success as the “best kept secret” in entertainment – in contrast to ailing mainstream TV networks, who have “lost their way”.