The CEO of Great American Family said the network celebrates faith and aims to be a place where families can gather around the television without encountering vile content. The Great American Family launched its annual “Great American Christmas” event this month, featuring 18 new movies, beloved classics and 24/7 holiday programming throughout the Christmas season. Despite some skepticism about the fall Christmas show, CEO Bill Abbott says Great American Family fans embrace it, especially during election season when negativity dominates the news. .
“We've learned over the years that there's no limit to positivity, and there's no limit to feel-good movies,” Abbott told Crosswalk Headlines.
Great American Family's library is large enough that we were able to begin our 24/7 Christmas programming on the weekend of October 11th, a week ahead of schedule. This year's films feature actors and actresses including Candace Cameron Bure, Jen Lilly, Laura Osnes, Danica McKellar, Trevor Donovan, and Jesse Hatch.
“The results for the first weekend were phenomenal,” he said of viewership. “We are showing growth on the linear side of the business.”
Great American Family launched in 2021 as a rival to Hallmark and home to content that celebrates “faith, family and country.” Abbott said merging with faith-based Pure Flix in 2023 was a natural fit. Launched streaming service “Great American Pure Flix.''
“It really gave us the freedom and permission to act more faith-based on the linear side,” he said of the cable/satellite channel. “And supporting the pillars of faith, family and country has always been our goal. That's how this business was founded and the principles it's founded on. But when you add Pure Flix to it, It was just a natural thing that we were really leaning into it. ”
“Frankly, there is very little content focused on these areas. [we were] I'm very proud to have done that and it turned out great. ”
Abbott said the company strives to be unique in its programming.
“We take a perspective rarely seen in entertainment: one that upholds and uplifts faith, family and country values,” he said. . “We think it’s really important for culture to actually create content in that way, and more than that. [to create content that is] It's just a funny, feel-good, quality story that's never mean or gratuitous.
”[Fans] I want something that they will look at and feel good about. ”
Related articles: Great American Family's Christmas Lineup Featuring 18 New Movies and Beloved Stars
Photo credit: ©Pure Flix/Great American Media, used with permission.
michael faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His articles have appeared in the Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star, and Knoxville News Sentinel.
