Frndly TV Adds 2 GAC Channels Ahead of the Holidays
Back when Bill Abbott, former head of Hallmark Channel, left to launch his own media properties—[GAC Family] and [GAC Living]—it must have seemed like quite a gamble. Now it’s a gamble that looks increasingly likely to pay off thanks to a new distribution deal with Frndly TV. GAC Media was formed by acquiring Great American Country from Discovery and RIDE TV, then rebranding them [GAC Family] and [GAC Living].
[GAC Family] is included in the base plan of Philo, which is available with a 7-Day Free Trial. Both [GAC Family] and [GAC Living] are on Sling TV, but as part of their Extra Add-On. You can also get [GAC Family] on the various add-ons of fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, and DIRECTV STREAM Premier Plan.
| DTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Sign Up | Free Trial | Get 50% Off | Sign Up | |||
| $79.99 | $91.99 | $76.99 | $25 | $40 | $40 | $72.99 | ||
The new connection with Frndly gives GAC Media, and its various imprints, access to over 400,000 new potential viewers. Better yet, since Frndly focuses primarily on providing “family-friendly TV”, the programming from GAC Media should be a solid fit. With families all over about to gather together in various holiday celebrations—from Thanksgiving to Christmas to Hanukkah and all the rest—having ready access to such programming should be especially appreciated. The fact that GAC Media is about to roll out its Great American Christmas lineup can only help matters. T
he new slate of programming is set to begin October 24 with a special presentation, Welcome to Great American Christmas. The special features former Home & Family hosts Debbie Matenopoulos and Cameron Mathison, and serves as a way to preview the holiday movies coming to the channel as well as sharing a few ideas for holiday craft projects.
The Frndly platform offers 21 channels, starting at $5.99 per month and going up to $9.99 a month, depending on the features desired. The platform offers access to Hallmark Channel, as well as [Hallmark Drama] and [Hallmark Movies & Mysteries]. It also boasts BabyFirst TV, CuriosityStream, GSN (Game Show Network) and The Weather Channel.
This may explain at least part of Frndly’s interest in adding the GAC lineup to its roster. Frndly has been working to add channels to its roster for a while now, and the latest was the addition of Circle back in August. Bringing in the country music-themed network—complete with a library of video-on-demand content—gave Frndly that much more appeal for its customer base.
There’s always been a certain demand for family-friendly fare, especially as major networks pursue more graphic and edgier content in a bid to draw more attention. Hallmark Channel, meanwhile, has demonstrated the immense potential value of non-stop holiday movies within about two months of Christmas.
A 2017 study found that Hallmark Channel was poised to bring in $390 million in ad revenue by itself, by airing a string of movies that cost an average of $2 million each to produce. For Frndly to follow suit here makes sense, and this is a move that should give both Frndly and GAC Media a leg up in the market.
Frndly TV
Frndly TV is a live TV streaming service with over 40 channels for $7.99/month. Each plan is designed to provide a skinny bundle of family-friendly channels at a reasonable price. The service will appeal most to fans of Hallmark channels. It does not offer news, sports, or local channels.