Fans who cannot currently get GAC channels through their cable subscription can rejoice: a GAC Family app is in the works. The head of GAC Media announced the launch of Great American Community, an app that will stream lifestyle, seasonal, and holiday content from the company’s two new networks.
“Since launching GAC Family original programming last October, fans have been asking us for more opportunities to engage with our roster of talent, which we believe is the best in the business,” said Bill Abbott, president and CEO of GAC Media. “Great American Community will serve as a stand-alone app delivering a completely new experience for consumers hungry for trusted, family-friendly content that is relevant to their lives.”
What is GAC?
GAC Media was launched in June 2021 by Abbott, who left his position as CEO of Crown Media Family Networks in 2020. The company purchased two cable networks and began showing content in September. The GAC Family network has been showing HGTV content, including Tiny House, Big Living and Aloha Builds. GAC Family has been showing reruns of family-friendly shows such as Who’s the Boss and Bewitched, while also debuting original romantic comedies.
Big names
During the 2021 holiday season, the network released 12 films starring actors such as Danica McKellar, Jen Lilley, Chad Michael Murray, and Brendan Fehr. The network has already released several movies this year and has started production on holiday content for the 2022 season.
GAC Media recently made headlines when Candace Cameron Bure signed a deal to produce and star in content for GAC Family.
GAC Family app
Though some fans of Hallmark have celebrated the addition of the new networks, some are concerned that they won’t be able to watch their favorite stars on GAC because they can’t access the channels. GAC Family and GAC Living are available on some but not all basic cable packages. The network currently isn’t available at all in Canada.
An app will allow fans to watch original content created for the networks without a cable subscription.
According to GAC Media, “The company has commissioned more than 200 hours of original content exclusively for the ad-supported app, which will be available in mobile app stores and on connected devices.”
Many of the actors and content producers are well-known to Hallmark audiences. According to the press release: “GAC Media has tapped veteran producer Tracy Verna (“Home and Family,” “The Price Is Right”) to oversee all content creation for Great American Community, which will include short-form lifestyle content featuring Debbie Matenopoulos (“Home & Family,” “The View”), Cameron Mathison (“Home & Family,” “General Hospital”); as well as Shirley Bovshow (“Home & Family,” home and gardening expert), Kym Douglas (“Home & Family,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” lifestyle expert), Maria Provenzano (“Home & Family,” DIY expert), Larissa Wohl (“Home & Family,” animal expert), Lawrence Zarian (“Home & Family,” “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” fashion expert), Toya Boudy (culinary expert), Amber Kemp-Gerstel (DIY expert), Emily Hutchinson (baking expert), Jamie Tarence (cooking expert), Mahaila McKellar (lifestyle expert); and other fan-favorite stars from GAC Family, including Jen Lilley, Jill Wagner, Danica McKellar, and Trevor Donovan.
Great American Community is expected to launch in September 2022.