This was not exactly a newsflash as ATT had told subscribers a month or so ago via postcards that they may or may not keep Hallmark channels pending negotiations as the contracts expired on August 31st. (The postcard also noted adding to the library at UverseOnline, changes to MyMultiView, etc.)
Not exactly how Dish or Diwrecked would have handled it, that is, dropping the channels with absolutely no notice to subscribers.