Sony Pictures Entertainment recently announced its streaming service, Pure Flix, is merging with Great American Media to attract more Christian audiences. Their individual video content libraries will soon be available on both platforms in addition to cable television.
Bill Abbott formed Great American Media in 2021 after stepping down as CEO of Crown Media. His goal was to create an alternate source of entertainment for churchgoers other than the Hallmark Channel, a long-time home of Christmas movies which is owned by Crown Media.
Since then, Great American Media has expanded to include the Great American Family and Great American Living networks. While it can reach 50 million homes still signed up for cable, these numbers are dwindling in recent quarters across several big networks.
The company is taking its first steps into a permanent streaming home, although other streaming services, such as Fubo and Frndly TV, offer some Great American Media content.
Pure Flix is a family-friendly faith-based streaming service founded by the creators of the God’s Not Dead film franchise. Its mission is to provide “media that strengthens your faith and values, is wholesome, and suitable for the entire family” and promises to host only content that is “free from uncomfortable surprises for you, your family, and your community.”
Sony Pictures Entertainment bought the service in 2020 and has since acquired over one million subscribers. Memberships come with a free seven-day trial and plans cost $7.99 per month. There are no contracts, so subscribers can cancel at any time.
As more people continue to cut the cable cord, this (still pending) deal with Pure Flix will help Great American Media reach more people in its target audience by bringing its content library into the highly profitable era of streaming.
Check back with Cord Cutters News as more details emerge.