Pure Flix, Sony’s trusty and family-based streaming platform, is to merge with Great American Media, Hallmark Channel’s rival, it was announced Thursday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the pairing will see Pure Flix fall into the new entity, with Great American Media adding two cable networks – Great American Family and Great American Living – and a free ad-supported subscription streaming channel. , Great American Adventures.
The proposed merger will come as family and faith-based TV series Ted Lasso And The chosen one hit with audience.
Pending regulatory approvals and other closing conditions, Great American Media, led by President and CEO Bill Abbot, will maintain a controlling interest in the merged company, with Abbot as CEO, and oversee the day-to-day management of all multi-channel family and believe media brands.
Bringing Pure Flix and Great American Media aims to secure the scale among TV viewers of religious entertainment for families and faiths. “In a media environment where programming and distribution business models are constantly evolving, 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.” Abbott said in a statement.
“Family-friendly entertainment remains an important segment of the industry, and merging these two entities will create the greatest opportunity to achieve greater scale for Pure Flix as it continues to grow its subscriber base,” Ravi Ahuja, president of global television studios and corporate development for Sony Pictures, added in its own statement.
Sony Pictures Television acquired Pure Flix in December 2020 and its streamers have nearly 1 million subscribers in North America. Great American Family reaches about 50 million households.
