Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Pure Flix, a faith-based content streaming service, is merging with Great American Media, a new cable rival to the Hallmark Channel. This merger will give Pure Flix a place in front of traditional TV viewers and also bolster the content for Great American’s TV networks, Great American Family and Great American Living. Both Pure Flix and Great American Media will cross each other’s platforms as part of the deal, which has yet to close.
Sony took over Pure Flix in December 2020 for an undisclosed amount, and the service costs $7.99 a month, with approximately 1 million subscribers in the US and Canada. The deal will also give Great American Media’s fledgling TV networks a streaming home.
Bill Abbott to Remain as CEO of Merged Companies
Great American Media and its two cable TV networks, which were launched in 2021 by Bill Abbott, the former CEO of Crown Media, the parent company of the Hallmark Channel. Abbott will still be the CEO of the merged companies and will report to the board of directors. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Great American Media will hold the majority interest in the merged company.
Abbott left Hallmark in 2020 after a backlash involving commercials featuring a same-sex wedding ceremony. The network pulled the ads after facing pressure from a conservative group, then reversed its course shortly after a gay rights advocacy group attempted to launch an advertising boycott. Abbott launched Great American Media soon after and signed deals with some of the top stars known for their Hallmark Channel movies and series. Familiar faces at Great American Media include Danica McKellar, who starred as Winnie Cooper in the original “Wonder Years,” Candace Cameron Bure, the longtime queen of Hallmark holiday films who recently found herself mired in controversy over comments regarding same-sex couples, and Lori Loughlin, the former “Full House” cast member who had been fired from Hallmark for her role in the 2019 college admissions scandal.
Great American Media Launches Content on Traditional Cable Networks
Great American Media took the step of launching its content on traditional cable networks, rather than a streaming service, at a time when more and more customers are fleeing cable bundles in favor of streaming. Cable subscriber losses continued to accelerate in the most recent quarter. While the company’s networks are available in 50 million pay TV homes and tout that it is the fastest-growing TV network based on Nielsen ratings, it has yet to start its own streaming service. Instead, the networks have been featured in internet TV bundles, such as Frndly TV and Fubo. Great American Media also has a free, ad-supported channel for its content.
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