Hallmark Channel, GAC Media status of the biggest star network

Feel good movies for everyone! After decades of dominating holiday movies, the Hallmark Channel found itself competing for Christmas ratings in the hands of Great American Media.

When the former CEO of Hallmark Media (Hallmark Channel’s parent company) Bill Abbott acquired by GAC Media, originally Great American Country, in June 2021, the landscape of cheerful seasonal films has changed. (It later changed its name to Great American Media.)

In fact, Hallmark is now struggling to see which of its stars will push the brand forward and which it will skip for Great American Media — which has two channels, Great American Family and Great American Living.

A month after Great American Media launched its two channels, the first hit on the Hallmark list came in the form of Danica McKellar signing multi-image contract with a competitor.

“Danica is a world-class talent who is among television’s most beloved and enduring stars,” Abbott said in an October 2021 press release. “Her combination of creativity and passion is unmatched, and I’m thrilled to have her join the close-knit GAC family.”

While some other Hallmark stars joined McKellar in Great American Media’s holiday lineup during the fall and winter of 2021, it wasn’t until early 2022 that Hallmark Media began making its own moves.

Hallmark’s parent company announced in February 2022 that it had cemented a deal with her Lacey Chabertwho is the star of one of the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries franchises, signaling that they are not giving up on Great American Media’s battle for talent.

“Lacey’s warmth, talent, relatability and creative sensibility have endeared her to millions of Hallmark viewers for more than ten years, making her one of our most sought-after stars,” EVP of Programming at Hallmark Media, Lisa Hamilton Daly, according to the press release. “In addition to shining on screen, Lacey is a prolific creative partner behind the scenes, developing and executive producing many of our highest-quality, all-time favorite projects.”

However, Hallmark Channel fans didn’t see it coming when two months later, Candace Cameron Bure announced that it is switching to Great American Media. The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries The star starred in 18 mystery movies for the network and was dubbed the “Queen of Christmas” for her holiday work ahead of her departure.

“I make them because I love them,” Cameron Bure exclusively said Us Weekly in November 2021 ahead of the release of her final Hallmark holiday film. “And I know that the viewers who watch them really love them and mean something to them.”

Scroll down to see which of your favorite Hallmark Channel and Great American Media stars are standing by their networks: