How to Watch Hallmark’s New Series, ‘The Chicken Sisters’

Lea Thompson and Wendie Malick star in Hallmark's new series about families with rival fried chicken restaurants.

Attention, Hallmarkies. A new show is joining the ranks of feel-good shows like When Calls the Heart and The Way Home. The Chicken Sisters – an adaptation of the bestselling book by KJ Dell’Antonia — premieres September 10. But it won’t air on Hallmark Channel. Instead, the new, eight-episode series will stream exclusively on Hallmark’s reimagined streaming service, Hallmark+.

What is ‘The Chicken Sisters’ about?

The Chicken Sisters is “a family drama dipped in southern charm and served up with a saucy side of romance,” according to Hallmark.

The show is set in the fictional town of Merinac, where the families behind two fried chicken restaurants – Mimi’s and Frannie’s – have been locked in a years-long feud. When a popular cooking competition show comes to town, it seems like the bitter rivalry might finally be put to rest. But before that happens, things will heat up in Merinac, as secrets are revealed and feathers are ruffled.

The Chicken Sisters cast includes Schuyler Fisk, Genevieve Angelson, Lea Thompson, Wendie Malick, James Kot, Rukiya Bernard, Ektor Rivera, and Jake Foy, Emmy-winner Margo Martindale will serve as the nearly omniscient narrator.

‘The Chicken Sisters’ will stream on Hallmark+

The Chicken Sisters will premiere exclusively on Hallmark+ starting on Tuesday, Sept. 10. New episodes stream on Thursdays starting Sept. 12.

The scripted drama is one of several fresh offerings that will inaugurate the streaming service when it launches as a replacement for Hallmark Movies Now. Other new content available at launch includes the unscripted series Celebrations With Lacey Chabert and The Jane Mysteries: A Deadly Prescription with Jodie Sweetin.

So, how can Hallmark fans get access to the new streaming service? If you’re already a Hallmark Movies Now subscriber, you don’t need to do anything. Your Hallmark Movies Now subscription will automatically transition into a Hallmark+ subscription.

If you aren’t already signed up for Hallmark’s streaming service, you can do so for $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. That’s a little more expensive than Hallmark Movies Now. But the new service will deliver much more original content than Hallmark’s first attempt at a streaming service.

In addition to The Chicken Sisters, Hallmark+ has a long list of premieres planned for the rest of 2024. That includes a new movie trilogy, Groomsmen, with Jonathan Bennett, Tyler Hynes and B.J. Britt; two holiday limited series, Holidazed and Mistletoe Murders; and unscripted series such as Small Town Setup with Ashley Williams and Home Is Where the Heart Is with Luke Macfarlane. There’s also Finding Mr. Christmas, a reality competition series about the search for a real-life Hallmark hunk. The plan is to have three original movie premieres per month on Hallmark+, Lisa Hamilton Daly, Hallmark Media’s EVP of programming, told Vulture.

Hallmark is also offering special perks for Hallmark+ subscribers, including monthly $5 Hallmark Gold Crown Store coupons, free unlimited eCards, shopping rewards, and surprise gifts.

Will ‘The Chicken Sisters’ air on Hallmark Channel?

No, The Chicken Sisters will not air on Hallmark Channel. You will need to sign up for Hallmark+ to watch the show. However, Hallmark execs did tell Vulture that there’s a chance Hallmark+ shows and movies will air on Hallmark Channel at some point in the future.

The decision to keep the new show exclusively on streaming (at least for now) might seem odd to some viewers. But in an interview with Variety, Daly explained that Hallmark+ content will be distinct from the shows and movies that air on Hallmark Channel because the intended audience is different.

“We think about our audiences and what they want and like from us, as to where it goes first,” she explained. “We’re thinking about diversity, the audience being younger and building it around. Our linear audience is who’s left watching linear, which tends to be older. We consider them our core viewers so we think about what makes them happy. It’s about thinking about the audience first in each place.”

In addition to exclusives, Hallmark+ will offer access to a library of movies and shows that originally aired on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mystery. However, it will not feature live Hallmark Channel streaming. Subscribers also won’t be able to stream new movies – including new Countdown to Christmas movies – immediately after they air. To stream new Hallmark Channel movies live and on-demand without cable, you can subscribe to Peacock.