Hallmark Channel is extending its Super Bowl counterprogramming kitten competition franchise to the summer, with Kitten Summer Games. It will premiere on the network in August 2016 and will showcase hundreds of adoptable kittens.

“With our phenomenal shelter partners, Crown Media Family Networks is having a positive impact on rescuing animals from high kill shelters and significantly increasing the numbers of shelter pet adoptions,” said Bill Abbott, President & CEO, Crown Media Family Networks.

More than 20 shelter partners of North Shore Animal League America came together to host Kitten Bowl II viewing parties which resulted in hundreds of animals being adopted on Su-Purr Sunday. Hallmark Channel hopes many more shelters will host adoption parties around Kitten Summer Games with the goal of dramatically increasing pet adoptions.

Kitten Summer Games is executive produced by 3 Ball Entertainment’s JD Roth, Todd A. Nelson, Adam Kaloustian and Brant Pinvidic, with Jesse Drollette serving as co-executive producer. 3 Ball Entertainment credits include Extreme Weight Loss (ABC), Bar Rescue (Spike) and My Cat From Hell (Animal Planet), among others.

Crown Media Family Networks, which owns and operates Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, is the home of Pet Project, the company’s pro-social initiative, which utilizes entertainment to show the joys pets bring to lives. The company recently adopted Happy The Cat from a shelter in rural Ohio, and Happy The Dog who was abandoned on a street in South Los Angeles. Both will be featured nationally as Crown Media Family Networks’ ambassadors of “adopt, don’t shop” pet adoption initiatives.