As television networks battle for viewers who have seemingly endless choices of what to watch and stream, one network says its success is based on basic conservative principles, which is paying off in a big way.
Great American Media launched in 2021. The company created cable networks Great American Family, which airs movies and series, and Great American Living, which features classic sitcoms and home improvement shows, with the goal being to provide family-friendly programming as networks such as Hallmark Channel began to take on more liberal content including films focused on same-sex couples.
Great American Media CEO and President Bill Abbott confirmed in an interview with the Washington Examiner that there are no plans to include liberal messages within its films and television shows, reiterating the company’s commitment to promoting faith and family.
“I think we are relentlessly, again, focused on being supportive of family, faith, and country,” Abbott said. “And those are principles I think that the majority, vast majority of Americans can agree on, and we will never deviate from that strategy and from really having our content focused on that uplifting, inspirational experience that people feel good about, that they can watch with their families, that they can not have to grab the remote or have their kids exposed to different things that they might not be at the level of maturity to see, so we are very relentlessly focused on it, and will never deviate.”
Abbott said it’s especially important to provide counter-programming as many liberal shows and movies often portray faith and family in a negative way. He also acknowledged that many turn to Great American Media for an escape from politics and other divisive issues. His goal is to have the channels be “that oasis in the desert” amid the stress of real life, noting how the network’s audience increases when the environment becomes more contentious.
Since leaving Crown Media Family Networks, the parent company of Hallmark channel, Abbott has also brought over a number of stars from the rival, who were also looking for programming that aligned with their ideals.
Among them is Candace Cameron Bure, who made the move in 2022. At the time, Bure stated that she believed that Great American Family would keep “traditional marriage at the core.” In the months following, actor Trevor Donovan also left Hallmark. The network also announced in February that it had signed actor and Access Hollywood host Mario Lopez to a multi-year deal to create movies and shows for the network.
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“At this stage in my life, family is the most important thing to me,” the father of three said in a statement announcing the partnership. “Being able to share family-friendly stories representing diverse voices is a true blessing.”
Great American Family’s popularity comes as entertainment catering to a Christian and conservative audience has received more attention, with Angel Studios’s The Chosen television series gaining major attention from both the media and audiences. Sound of Freedom, a film that was also released by Angel Studios, became the biggest surprise box office hit of 2023, grossing over $180 million in North America and over $250 million worldwide.
