Crown Media's Hallmark Channel has opted out of depictions of needless depictions of smoking, following the pledge from the Walt Disney Company. The move earned the praise of Ed Markey (D-MA) and precipitated a challenge to other producers and distributors. "I look forward to receiving further commitments from additional movie studios and prominent cable programmers to mitigate the effects of cigarette smoking through compelling anti-smoking PSAs in theaters and on DVDs, and pledges to discourage or eliminate smoking in movies, especially those rated or created for kids under 18," said Markey.
