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GAC Family is now called Great American Family. The U.S. television network launched as GAC Family on September 27, 2021, after Great American Media acquired Great American Country. On August 20, 2022, it was renamed Great American Family. Its companion network, GAC Living, became Great American Living.
The name “GAC Family” still appears in older articles, search results, and viewer discussions, but it is no longer the network’s official name. Great American Family is a family-oriented linear television channel best known for original Christmas movies, romantic comedies, series, classic programming, and its annual Great American Christmas schedule.
What is Great American Family?
Great American Family is the flagship linear network of Great American Media, a U.S. entertainment company founded in June 2021 by Bill Abbott and a group of U.S.-based family offices. The company acquired Great American Country from Discovery and RIDE TV, then relaunched its services as GAC Family and GAC Living.
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From the beginning, the two networks had different roles. GAC Family was positioned as the scripted, family-friendly destination for movies and series, while GAC Living was intended as an unscripted companion channel. After the 2022 rebrand, the names became Great American Family and Great American Living.
Great American Family’s programming identity centers on:
- Original Christmas movies and seasonal specials
- Romantic comedies and made-for-television movies
- Family-oriented scripted series
- Classic television programming
- Content associated with faith, family, and country
The network’s major seasonal franchise is Great American Christmas, a large slate of holiday programming that drives much of the channel’s visibility and its comparison with Hallmark Channel.
Why is it considered a Hallmark competitor?
Great American Family is often described as a Hallmark competitor because the networks appeal to overlapping audiences and use similar broad formats: feel-good entertainment, Christmas movies, romantic comedies, and family-friendly television. The comparison is about programming, audience, and business strategy—not ownership.
Great American Family is not owned by Hallmark. It belongs to Great American Media, while Hallmark Channel is part of the Hallmark Media and Hallmark Cards ecosystem.
There is, however, a significant executive connection. Great American Media president and CEO Bill Abbott is the former president and CEO of Crown Media Family Networks, the former parent company of Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama. That background helps explain why Great American Family has pursued a familiar mix of seasonal movies and romantic programming, but it does not make the two companies the same.
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Great American Media has also signed performers associated with Hallmark-style programming. For example, the company announced a multi-picture agreement with Danica McKellar and made original Christmas movies a central part of its programming strategy. It is accurate to call Great American Family a Hallmark-style network or a competitor for viewers who enjoy Hallmark programming. It is too strong to claim that it is Hallmark’s only or universally acknowledged primary competitor.
GAC Family name change: a quick timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 2021 | GAC Media was established and acquired Great American Country and RIDE TV. |
| September 27, 2021 | GAC Family and GAC Living launched as Great American Media’s flagship networks. |
| August 20, 2022 | GAC Family became Great American Family, and GAC Living became Great American Living. |
| 2025–2026 | Great American Media’s broader ecosystem included Great American Family, Great American Faith & Living, Great American Pure Flix, and GFam+. |
How to watch Great American Family in the United States
Great American Family is available through traditional television providers, selected live-TV streaming services, and Great American Media’s own streaming options. Availability, channel placement, plan requirements, pricing, and device support can change, so verify the current lineup before subscribing.
1. Cable or satellite television
Great American Family’s official FAQ directs viewers to its channel finder to identify the network’s local channel number. There is no single channel number that applies across the United States: placement depends on the provider and, in some cases, the viewer’s ZIP code.
Use the network’s channel finder or search your provider’s current lineup rather than relying on a channel number listed in an old article.
2. Live-TV streaming services
The network’s official FAQ lists the following services as carrying Great American Family:
- Frndly TV
- Fubo TV
- Philo
- Hulu’s live-TV offering
- DIRECTV STREAM
- Sling TV
Great American Media also announced in September 2025 that Great American Family and Great American Faith & Living joined YouTube TV’s live channel lineup in the United States.
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These services are not interchangeable. A provider may place the network in a particular plan tier, and channel availability or terms may vary by location and change over time. Check the provider’s current channel guide before signing up. In particular, do not assume that the standard, on-demand version of Hulu includes the live network; the relevant offering is Hulu’s live-TV service.
| What you want | Most relevant option | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| The traditional channel without cable | A live-TV service such as Frndly TV, Fubo TV, Philo, Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, Sling TV, or YouTube TV | Current plan tier, regional availability, price, and whether the channel is still included |
| A direct Great American streaming option | GFam+ | That the content and live feed meet your needs, plus current price and device compatibility |
| On-demand Great American Media movies and shows | Great American Pure Flix | Whether the specific title is included and whether it is available in your country |
3. GFam+
GFam+ is a separate streaming service from the Great American Family linear channel. Current support information describes it as a live channel feed designed to provide a traditional TV-like viewing experience.
As of the research date, GFam+ support documentation listed membership prices of $4.99 per month and $49.99 per year. Streaming prices are volatile, so confirm the current amount before purchasing.
GFam+ support documentation lists compatibility with:
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- Amazon Fire TV devices released in 2017 or later and running Fire OS 6.0 or later
- Apple TV
- Supported Android and iOS devices
- Selected LG and Samsung smart TVs
- Chromecast
- Supported desktop web browsers
Device support can change. If you plan to watch on a television, check the current GFam+ compatibility information for your exact device model and operating-system version before subscribing.
4. Great American Pure Flix
Great American Pure Flix is another separate service in the Great American Media portfolio. Unlike GFam+, which is described as a live channel feed, Pure Flix is an on-demand streaming library.
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That distinction matters when you are looking for a specific program. Some Great American Media originals premiere on Pure Flix before appearing on Great American Family and GFam+. A Pure Flix subscription therefore should not be treated as an automatic replacement for the Great American Family channel, and a GFam+ subscription does not automatically provide the entire Pure Flix library.
5. A practical device choice for GFam+
If your television does not already support the GFam+ app, an Amazon Fire TV Stick can provide a supported way to install and use the service, provided the device meets the stated Fire TV and Fire OS requirements. The hardware does not include a GFam+ subscription; it is only the streaming device used to access the app.
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Great American Family versus Hallmark Channel
| Feature | Great American Family | Hallmark Channel and Hallmark+ |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate home | Great American Media | Hallmark Media and the broader Hallmark Cards ecosystem |
| Current network name | Great American Family; formerly GAC Family | Hallmark Channel |
| Core programming | Original Christmas movies, seasonal romantic comedies, series, and classic programming | Original movies, series, seasonal programming, and feel-good entertainment |
| Direct streaming distinction | GFam+ is a separate live-channel service; Great American Pure Flix is an on-demand service | Hallmark+ is a separate streaming and membership service with its own content and benefits |
| Where viewers may find it | Cable, selected live-TV services, YouTube TV, GFam+, and related Great American Media services | Cable and OTT providers, plus Hallmark+ and other Hallmark services, depending on title and provider |
The most useful way to compare the networks is as a viewing choice. If you like holiday movies, romantic comedies, and reassuring family-oriented programming, their schedules may appeal to the same household. But their catalogs, subscription products, distribution agreements, and release windows are different. One subscription does not provide the other network’s full programming library.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which service should you choose?
- Choose a cable or live-TV provider if you want Great American Family as part of a broader channel lineup and also watch other live networks.
- Consider GFam+ if you specifically want Great American Media’s live-style streaming option and your device is supported.
- Consider Great American Pure Flix if your priority is on-demand access and you have confirmed that the movies or series you want are in its catalog.
- Use the channel finder first if you already pay for cable or satellite; the network may already be included in your package.
- Check title-specific availability when searching for a particular movie. A title may be scheduled on the linear network, available through GFam+, or released on Pure Flix at a different time.
What “GAC Family” means today
When someone asks what GAC Family is, the clearest answer is: it was the original name of Great American Family, a U.S. family-entertainment television network launched in 2021 and renamed in 2022.
“GAC Family” remains a useful historical term, but it should not be used as though it were the current official network name. For current viewing information, search for Great American Family, check the network’s channel finder, and distinguish carefully between the linear channel, GFam+, and Great American Pure Flix.
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- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
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Availability, pricing, provider lineups, app names, device requirements, and the division between Great American Family, GFam+, and Great American Pure Flix may change. Recheck the official service information immediately before publication or purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GAC Family still called GAC Family?
GAC Family was renamed Great American Family on August 20, 2022. “GAC Family” is still used in older articles and searches, but Great American Family is the current official name.
Is Great American Family owned by Hallmark?
Great American Family is not owned by Hallmark. It is the flagship network of Great American Media. The comparison exists because both companies program family-friendly movies, romantic comedies, and extensive Christmas content.
What streaming services carry Great American Family?
The network’s FAQ lists Frndly TV, Fubo TV, Philo, Hulu’s live-TV offering, DIRECTV STREAM, and Sling TV. Great American Media also announced U.S. carriage on YouTube TV in September 2025. Verify the current plan and local lineup before subscribing.
Is GFam+ the same as Great American Pure Flix?
No. GFam+ is described as a separate live channel feed, while Great American Pure Flix is a separate on-demand library. Neither should automatically be assumed to include all of the other service’s content.
What devices support GFam+?
GFam+ support documentation lists Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, supported Android and iOS devices, selected LG and Samsung TVs, Chromecast, and supported desktop browsers. Requirements can change, so check the current compatibility list for your device.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: GAC Family is the former name of Great American Family, not a current Hallmark-owned network. In the U.S., you can look for Great American Family through your cable provider, listed live-TV services, YouTube TV, or the separate GFam+ streaming service. Great American Pure Flix is a different, on-demand service, so check the exact platform and title availability before subscribing.
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