The network “Great American Family” just purchased “PureFlix,” the Sony Christian streaming site. Its goal in making the purchase is to expand its content library of faith-based and family-friendly shows, and, in the process, distancing itself even further from woke, non-Christian programming available on the Hallmark Channel.
Great American Family announced the purchase, though it did not disclose details, in a press release posted to its website. In that press release, Great American Family said:
Pure Flix, a leading faith and family streaming platform owned by Sony Pictures Television, and Great American Media, home to a growing portfolio of family-friendly media brands, today announced the signing of an agreement to merge the two companies. Pure Flix will become part of the merged company, with Great American Media contributing two cable networks (Great American Family and Great American Living) and a FAST channel (Great American Adventures). Great American Media will retain a majority interest in the merged company and will oversee day-to-day management of the independent organization.
Great American Media President and CEO, Bill Abbott, will serve as CEO of the merged entity, reporting to the company’s board of directors. The new company will build on the multi-faceted, multi-channel family and faith media brands in the portfolio. Closing of the deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
Pure Flix and Great American Media share the same mission to serve and delight consumers in the family and faith categories. Combining the power of Great American Media’s linear networks and FAST channel with Pure Flix’s SVOD service and vast content library will provide an opportunity for each platform to reach a larger and broader audience. Bringing the brands together into one entity will immediately establish the company as a leader in the genres.
“In a media environment where programming and distribution business models are in a constant state of flux, this agreement provides a rare opportunity to maximize our potential with the expertise, market knowledge and content creation capabilities of a world class partner like Sony Pictures,” said Abbott. “This merger will allow us to further our commitment to original, quality content and makes Great American Media and Pure Flix leaders in a large and under-served market.”
“Family-friendly entertainment remains an important segment of the industry, and merging these two entities will create the greatest opportunity to achieve more scale for Pure Flix as it continues to build its subscriber base,” said Ravi Ahuja, Chairman of Global Television Studios and Corporate Development for Sony Pictures. “Bill and the Great American Media team have been successfully leading the Great American Family and Great American Living brands, and we believe they have a winning plan to take Pure Flix to even greater heights.”
Actress Candace Cameron Bure left the Hallmark Channel this past year for the Great American Family channel after Hallmark’s programming and advertising started involving LGBTQ stories, which she disagreed with because of her strong Christian faith. Speaking about the move, Bure said, “I’m very excited to develop heartwarming family and faith-filled programming and make the kind of stories my family and I love to watch. I am constantly looking for ways that I can inspire people to live life with purpose.”
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