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.

Candace Cameron Bure is moving to GAC Family
(Image: @candacecameronbure/Instagram)

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.

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What is GAC Family?

Hallmark star Candace Cameron Bure made headlines when she announced she was leaving the network to work with GAC Family. The actress has signed a contract to produce and star in content for the network, which is run by former Crown Media CEO Bill Abbott.

While the move had lots of people talking, some had only one question: What is GAC Family, anyway?

GAC Family was launched in June 2021 by Abbott, who had previously led programming at Hallmark Channel’s parent company, Crown Media. In a deal Bloomberg valued at $90 million, Abbott worked with Dallas-based Hicks Equity Partners to buy two cable networks.

The networks, GAC Family and GAC Living, began airing content in September 2021. GAC Family premiered a slew of original movies in time for the holidays and is already working on more for the 2022 holiday season.

Who else is working with GAC Family?

Candace Cameron Bure joined Hallmark veterans Danica McKellar, Jessica Lowndes, and Jen Lilley in signing an exclusive contract with the network. Other Hallmark stars have also made movies for GAC Family, including Trevor Donovan, Brendan Fehr, Jennie Garth, Maggie Lawson, Sarah Lind, Daniel Lissing, M Chad Michael Murray, Sam Page, Merritt Patterson, Becca Tobin, Jill Wagner, and Dewshane Williams.

Too much of today's TV content is salacious, says Bill Abbott, former CEO of Crown Media
Bill Abbott (Image: Great American Media)

Who is Bill Abbott?

A native of Long Island, Abbott started his career in advertising after earning a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the College of the Holy Cross. He quickly became interested in television ratings and programming and moved on to work as a manager representing television stations around the country.

“I learned so much about what works, what doesn’t, what programming resonates,” he said in an appearance on the Up Next with John Contratti podcast.

He spent 20 years at Crown Media producing original content for Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama. He left the network in early 2020.

On Contratti’s podcast, Abbott said that a quantity over quality mentality had taken hold at too many networks. His plan with GAC Media is to provide family-friendly content for viewers.

“There’s so much need for family content in the market and in this space,” he said. “You know, it’s pretty scary, quite frankly, the amount of content that’s out there…the vast majority of content that’s salacious and just is not appropriate for any member of the family.”

What’s on GAC Family and GAC Living?

What is on GAC Living. The shows airing on the new network.
(Image: GAC Media)

In addition to movies, GAC Family has been showing reruns of I Dream of Jeannie, Full House, Fuller House, Who’s the Boss, and Bewitched.

GAC Living has been airing episodes of Hazel, Father Knows Best, Aloha Builds, First Time Flippers, Going RV, Growing Up Gator, Seaside Snacks and Shacks, Kimberly’s Southern Kitchen, Southern Fried Everything, Mountain Mamas, and Tiny House, Big Living.

Where can I find GAC Family?

We have a breakdown here of which cable companies have it. Where possible, we have included the channel numbers. Since channel numbers vary by region on some cable providers, we have included links to their websites where you can access the channel numbers for your area.

No cable? No problem. GAC Family is available to stream on the following subscription services:

Frdly TV

Fubo

Hulu

Philo

Sling

Cable providers:

Cox: Click this link to find the GAC Family channel in your area.

DirectTV: Channel 326

Dish: Channel 165

Frontier: Click this link to find the GAC Family channel in your area.

Mediacom: Click this link to find the GAC Family channel in your area.

Optimum: Click this link to find the GAC Family channel in your area.

Spectrum: Click this link to find the GAC Family channel in your area.

U-verse: Channel 1529

Xfinity: Channel 1620

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What is on GAC Living?

What is on GAC Living? The network premiered in September, one of two new channels launched by former Crown Media CEO Bill Abbott.

The two networks aim to deliver “sage and entertaining storytelling that enriches lives,” Abbott said.

What is on GAC Living?

GAC Living will focus on unscripted lifestyle content and follow the tagline “Life Well Lived.”

The channel has several series on currently, with plans to bring on more.

What is on GAC Living: The current lineup

What is on GAC Living: The current lineup.

Hazel

Shirley Booth starred in this classic sitcom as Hazel Burke, a no-nonsense housekeeper with a talent for managing the family she works for. The series ran from 1961 to 1966 and co-starred Don DeFore, Bobby Buntrock, Maudie Prickett, Whitney Blake, Ray Fulmer, and Julia Benjamin.

Fun fact: the series was originally sponsored by Ford Motor Company. The family all drove Fords, and in 1964, the Ford Mustang made its first appearance on TV.

Father Knows Best

Originally a radio series, Father Knows Best premiered as a TV show on CBS in 1954. The network canceled it after one season, but NBC picked it up and ran it for three more seasons. CBS got the show back and ran it from 1958 to 1960.

The series starred Robert Young and Jane Wyatt as Jim and Margaret Anderson, a midwestern couple with three children: Betty (Elinor Donahue), Bud (Billy Gray), and Kathy (Lauren Chapin).

First Time Flippers

Newbies try their hand at flipping houses with the guidance of professionals.

Aloha Builds

David and Michelle Jaime of the TV series Aloha Builds

Aloha Builds follows brother-and-wiser duo David and Michelle Jaime as they remodel homes in their home state of Hawaii.

Going RV

Families looking to take to the open road going shopping for their new home on wheels.

Tiny House, Big Living

Families work with tiny house builders to come up with their dream homes.

Growing Up Gator

Britney, Kasey, and Chelsea Brooks of the TV series Growing Up Gator

This reality series follows sisters Britney, Kasey, and Chelsea Brooks, who work for their family’s alligator farm in Christmas, Florida. In addition to caring for the 7,000 animals on their farm and go out to rescue stranded alligators.

Seaside Snacks and Shacks

Sabin Lomac, the co-owner of Cousins Maine Lobster, travels the coastal areas of the US to find the best local seafood dishes.

Kimberly’s Southern Kitchen

Kimberly Schlapman on Kimberly's Southern Kitchen

On this series, musician Kimberly Schlapman cooks up some of her favorite southern recipes.

Southern Barbecued Everything

The hosts of this show travel the country looking for the best southern barbecue.

Southern Fried Everything

This show explores America’s fascination with everything deep-fried.

Mountain Mamas

The stars of Mountain Mamas

Two women help buyers find reasonably priced homes in Montana and fix them up.

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