Is GAC Media a "Trumpy Cable Network"?

The Daily Beast

Candace Cameron Bure leaving her longtime home at Hallmark Channel for GAC has shined more of a spotlight on the cable network that, as The Daily Beast's Laura Bradley notes, was purchased by Thomas Hicks and his private equity firm, Hicks Equity Partners, which has had longtime ties with the Republican party. In fact, his eldest son Thomas “Tommy” Hicks Jr. is co-chair of the Republican National Committee with even more ties to Donald Trump. "To say that promotional materials for GAC Family are rife with conservative dog whistles would be akin to saying Santa Claus has a sweet tooth," says Bradley. "The words 'traditional values' and 'American culture, lifestyle, and heritage,' for instance, loom very large. GAC Media CEO Bill Abbott left his post as the head of Hallmark owner Crown Media in early 2020, after the channel faced controversy for yanking a commercial featuring a same-sex couple off the air...But when GAC promises 'safe' Christmas content, those of us who don’t fit into that equation know what they mean. The streamer’s films just happen to star white people in almost all lead roles—and in contrast to networks that have (belatedly) tried to embrace inclusivity in their holiday content, there’s not a same-sex couple or non-Christian celebration to be found in GAC’s slate."