Great American Country
| Great American Country | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Launched | December 31, 1995 |
| Owned by | Scripps Networks Interactive |
| Picture format |
1080i (HDTV) 480i(SDTV) |
| Headquarters | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States |
| Sister channel(s) |
Cooking Channel DIY Network Food Network HGTV Travel Channel |
| Website | www.gactv.com |
Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Dish Network | 165 (SD only) |
| DirecTV | 326 (SD only) |
| Cable | |
| Available on many cable systems | Check local listings for channels |
| Verizon FiOS | 223 (SD only) |
| IPTV | |
| AT&T U-Verse | 529 (SD only) |
Great American Country (or GAC), is a Nashville, Tennessee-based[1] cable television network featuring an American lifestyle format, along with country music programming and music videos.
As of August 2013, approximately 62,914,000 American households (55.09% of households with television) receive GAC.[2]
History
The channel launched December 31, 1995 with Garth Brooks' video "The Thunder Rolls" as the first video.[3]
Scripps Networks acquired GAC from Centennial, Colorado-based Jones Radio Network on October 12, 2004. Scripps Networks, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, also owns popular lifestyle-oriented channels HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and Travel Channel. The company was spun off from The E. W. Scripps Company in July 2008.
Great American Country features country lifestyle entertainment, original lifestyle programming, music performance specials, live concerts and country music videos.
Great American Country and ABC Radio Networks (now Cumulus Media) formed a partnership to produce a nightly radio show called GAC Nights: Live From Nashville hosted by Suzanne Alexander, and co-hosted by Storme Warren, and Nan Kelley. It was broadcast from its studios at Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee. The show ran from 2007 to 2009, when it was canceled.[citation needed]
AT&T U-verse dropped Food Network, Cooking Channel, HGTV, DIY Network and Great American Country on November 5, 2010 due to a carriage dispute.[5] Two days later, however, the carriage dispute was resolved.[6][7]
On October 1, 2013, the network unveiled a new brand identity and will drop its GAC acronym in favor of the full title, Great American Country.[8] The network also unveiled a new logo, and announced that it will begin broadcasting in high definition.[8] The network expanded beyond its country music roots with programs that chronicle families and American lifestyle themes.[9]
Programming
Country music comprises at least 50 percent of Great American Country’s programming, but with an emphasis on shows celebrating American culture.[10]
The network’s original programming includes, Kimberly’s Simply Southern, a cooking show featuring Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman; Farm Kings, a reality show chronicling the King family of Freedom Farms; Celebrity Motor Homes, featuring country music artists' tour buses.[11] The network also televises the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.[12]
In addition, the daily music video show Daily Countdown was renamed Great American Playlist. Top 20 Country Countdown continues to air each week and the network still offers country music specials including, Backstory, Introducing and Origins.[13]
References
- ↑ "Scripps-Howard FAQ". Scripps-Howard. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ↑ Seidman, Robert (August 23, 2013). "List of How Many Homes Each Cable Networks Is In - Cable Network Coverage Estimates As Of August 2013". TV by the Numbers. Zap2it. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ↑ The Official Garth Brooks Website
- ↑ Hot & Happening: Breakout Networks - 31 October 2005 - Broadcasting & Cable
- ↑ AT&T's U-verse Drops Food Network, HGTV and Other Scripps Networks, Chicago Tribune, November 5, 2010
- ↑ Food Network, HGTV, Back on U-verse, Chicago Tribune, November 7, 2010
- ↑ AT&T U-verse, Scripps Reconnect on Carriage Contract, MultiChannel News, November 7, 2010
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Great American Country Unveils New Brand Identity". The Futon Critic. October 1, 2013.
- ↑ "Great American Country Broadens Expanse"., MediaPost News, October 2, 2013
- ↑ Watts, Cindy (October 2, 2013). "GAC announces rebranding, programming changes". The Tennessean.
- ↑ "Great American Country Unveils New Brand Identity"., The Wall Street Journal, September 30, 2013
- ↑ "Rodeo Stars Thrill Packed House"., Amarillo Globe-News, September 18, 2013
- ↑ "GAC Announces Rebranding Changes"., The Tennessean, October 2, 2013
External links
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