If you love feel-good family programming and country-themed movies, especially during the holidays, the recently rebranded GAC (Great American Country) Family channel may be for you. The channel is now focused on bringing uplifting entertainment for all ages centered around faith, family, and the great outdoors. Read on to learn exactly where to find GAC Family in your DirecTV lineup and what kind of programming to expect when you tune in.
A Brief History of GAC Family
GAC Family originally launched back in 1995 as Great American Country, focusing solely on country music videos and concerts. The channel was purchased by Scripps Network in 2004 which shifted programming to include more country-themed lifestyle shows like "Celebrity Motor Homes" and "Farm Kings." After rebranding to its full Great American Country name in 2013, the channel ownership changed hands again – this time being acquired in 2021 by Great American Media and Hicks Equity Partners with plans to evolve it into a family-friendly channel with uplifting entertainment.
This latest reboot to GAC Family expanded the programming lineup to include original shows, holiday movies, and old family reruns while still retaining the core country lifestyle concept that has built a loyal viewership over the years. According to entertainment industry reports, channels in this genre have seen growth in demand especially for feel-good content that families can enjoy together.
An Overview of What‘s on GAC Family
So what exactly can you watch right now on GAC Family? Here‘s a quick breakdown:
Original Shows: "When Hope Calls" (drama about orphaned sisters who reunite as adults), "The Abigail Mysteries" (true crime podcaster investigates local mystery)
Syndicated Reruns: "Little House on the Prairie," "Full House," "Bewitched," "Columbo"
Original Movies: "An Autumn Romance," "A Belgian Chocolate Christmas," "Christmas Sweethearts" and more
In particular, GAC Family has been investing heavily into producing original feel-good and faith-based made-for-TV holiday movies. Given the popularity of these types of films on similar channels, it‘s likely we‘ll continue to see more Christmas-themed releases every year.
Comparsion of Family-Friendly Cable Channels
| Channel | Subscribers | Avg. Daily Views | Social Followers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAC Family | 12 million | 150,000 | 210k |
| Hallmark Channel | 80 million | 625,000 | 3 million |
| UPtv | 84 million | 580,000 | 260k |
As you can see, while GAC Family is still much smaller than powerhouses like Hallmark, its viewership is growing especially around the holidays when people are looking for feel-good entertainment the whole family can watch together.
Can I Watch GAC‘s Sister Channel?
In addition to GAC Family, there is a sister channel called Great American Living that focuses more on horse sports, reality shows about life in rural America, and classic Western series. However, this channel is NOT currently available on the DirecTV channel lineup.
The good news is that Great American Living is offered by several other major providers if you‘re itching for shows like "Mountain Mamas" and "Lone Ranger." It can be found on Dish Network (channel 346), Frndly TV (channel 18), Philo (channel 104), Sling TV, and more.
So while DirecTV subscribers are out of luck for now, there are ways to access this content on other platforms if the western/outdoors lifestyle programming appeals to you. The untapped demand could even potentially motivate DirecTV to add this sister channel in the future.
Finding GAC Family on Your DirecTV Lineup
For DirecTV customers who want that feel-good family and faith-based programming from GAC Family, you can access the channel by tuning into:
Channel: GAC Family
Channel #: 326
The channel number means its readily available on all DirecTV packages except the basic Choice package. You can stream to all compatible devices as well via the DirecTV app. This gives you the ability watch your favorite GAC shows and movies at home or on the go, with full DVR, pause, and rewind/fast forward functionality.
So if you‘re looking for some feel-good entertainment the whole family can watch – especially some uplifting new holiday movies this season – look no further than channel 326 on your DirecTV lineup! The rebooted GAC Family channel offers a variety of great programming all centered around faith, family, and country living.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a paid subscription?
Yes, GAC Family is a premium channel included with all DirecTV packages except the basic Choice package. Access requires a paid subscription.
How can I stream GAC Family on my devices?
The DirecTV app allows you to access GAC Family on mobile devices, giving you the same streaming, DVR and other functionality as watching on your TV.
What other channels are similar to GAC Family?
Top competitors in the family-friendly/inspirational genres are Hallmark Channel and UPtv. While smaller, GAC Family has been growing its feel-good entertainment offerings.
What if I want to watch Great American Living?
Unfortunately that sister channel isn‘t on DirecTV yet. But you can find it on other major providers like Dish Network, Sling TV, Philo and more if you‘re interested in the outdoors/country lifestyle focus.
I hope this comprehensive overview gives you a better sense of GAC Family‘s channel location, programming lineup, and how it compares to competitors in the inspiring family entertainment space. Let me know if you have any other questions!
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