Great American Media

GAC Media, LLC, doing business as Great American Media, is a Fort Worth, Texas-based media company. It is the owner of the U.S. cable networks Great American Family and Great American Living, and streaming service Pure Flix with Sony Pictures.[1]

GAC Media, LLC
Great American Media
TypePrivate
IndustryBroadcasting
FoundedJune 7, 2021 (2021-06-07)
FoundersBill Abbott, Tom Hicks
Headquarters
Fort Worth, Texas
,
United States
Key people
Bill Abbott, CEO
OwnerHicks Equity Partners
Websitegacmedia.com

History

The company was announced on June 7, 2021, through its acquisition of the cable networks Great American Country and Ride TV from Discovery, Inc. and Ride Television Network, Inc. respectively. The company is led by private equity investor Tom Hicks, and Bill Abbott—who formerly served as CEO of Crown Media Holdings.[2] After taking over the channels, they were rebranded as the "Great American Channels", with GAC itself being relaunched as GAC Family and taking on a family-friendly entertainment format not unlike Abbott's former employer Hallmark Channel, and Ride TV becoming GAC Living.[3][4]

GAC Family would emulate many of Abbott's programming decisions at Hallmark Channel, including a focus on original television films and holiday-themed content. It also signed deals with various actors associated with Hallmark Channel productions.[5][6][4] In April 2022, GAC Media hired Candace Cameron Bure–who had worked with Hallmark Channel since 2008–in an executive role, which would see her develop and star in original productions for its networks.[5][6] During its upfronts, Abbott stated that the company planned to expand into over-the-top content ventures, with plans for a lifestyle-based ad-supported streaming channel known as "Great American Adventures", and a "fan portal".[6]

In May 2022, GAC Media announced Great American Community, a planned service launching in September that would carry short-form programming featuring GAC talent and personalities, and feature online forums allowing users to interact with them. The service would be free and ad-supported, but GAC Media did not rule out a premium tier in the future.[7]

In July 2022, GAC Media launched Great American Adventures on Xumo, which carries lifestyle and entertainment programming oriented towards "Americana".[8] Later that month, GAC Media announced that it would change its trade name to Great American Media, as part of a corporate rebranding that also saw GAC Family and Living renamed Great American Family and Great American Living respectively on August 20, 2022. GAC Media will remain the company's legal name.[9]

In May 2023 streaming service Pure Flix, owned by Sony Pictures, merged with GAC Media.[10][11] Terms of the proposed merger were not disclosed, but GAC Media will retain a controlling stake in the new entity. Abbot, who will serve as CEO of the entity, said of the merger "this agreement provides a rare opportunity to maximize our potential with the expertise, market knowledge and content creation capabilities of a world class partner like Sony Pictures."[12]

Assets

Linear networks

Over-the-top services

References
  1. Vlessing, Etan (May 11, 2023). "Sony's Pure Flix to Merge With Hallmark Rival Great American Media". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  2. Goldsmith, Jill (June 7, 2021). "Discovery Sells Great American Country To Investor Group With Former Crown Media Chief Bill Abbott As CEO". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  3. Lafayette, Jon (August 26, 2021). "Former Hallmark Head Bill Abbott Renames Cable Networks To Create Family Friendly GAC Brands". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  4. Petski, Denise (December 8, 2021). "Jessica Lowndes & Jesse Metcalfe To Headline 'Harmony From The Heart' Movie For GAC Family". Deadline. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  5. Schwartz, Ryan (April 19, 2022). "Hallmark Vet Candace Cameron Bure Makes Move to GAC Family, to Develop 'Family and Faith-Filled Programming'". TVLine. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  6. Lafayette, Jon (April 25, 2022). "Bill Abbott's GAC Media Unwraps Holiday Plans in Upfront Pitch". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  7. Lafayette, Jon (May 17, 2022). "Bill Abbott's GAC Plans DTC App With Original Content, Social Functions". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  8. Lafayette, Jon (July 6, 2022). "Bill Abbott's GAC Media Launches Great American Adventures on Xumo". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  9. Lafayette, Jon (July 19, 2022). "Bill Abbott Renames GAC Family as Great American Family". Broadcasting Cable. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  10. Lewis, Errol (May 12, 2023). "Pure Flix and Great American Media Announce Plans to Merge; Deal Calls for Regulatory Approval". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  11. Rizzo, Lillian (May 11, 2023). "Sony's faith-based streaming service merges with Hallmark rival Great American Media". CNBC. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  12. Vlessing, Etan (May 11, 2023). "Sony's Pure Flix to Merge With Hallmark Rival Great American Media". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
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