Great American Media CEO Bill Abbott and Great Point Studios Founder Robert Halmi Reunite to Elevate Family-Friendly Entertainment

Former colleagues join forces to expand U.S.-based film production with a 20+ picture, multi-year deal producing original series and films domestically at Great Point Studios.

NEW YORK, July 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Great American Media CEO Bill Abbott today announced a new partnership with Robert Halmi, an Emmy^® and Golden Globe Award-winning producer, and his Great Point Studios. The collaboration is focused on developing high-quality, original movies rooted in family values and created for audiences seeking inspiring and meaningful entertainment.

The agreement calls for nearly two-dozen films and original series to be produced by Great American Media at Great Point Studios Buffalo over the next two years. Through this partnership, the two industry veterans are building a new foundation for stateside storytelling. The initiative will also revitalize domestic film production by creating significant employment opportunities across casting, crew, and creative roles—specifically in Western New York.

Abbott and Halmi, who previously helped define the modern family film genre, bring decades of production leadership to this renewed alliance and long-term partnership. Halmi is known for founding the Hallmark Channel, where Abbott served as President & CEO for 11 years prior to launching Great American Media in 2021.

"This partnership is about raising the bar," said Abbott. "We are committed to producing content that not only entertains but uplifts. We want to produce these films right here in the U.S., with people who share our passion for authentic, values-driven storytelling."

"I'm thrilled to reunite with Bill Abbott and support the incredible work he's doing at Great American Media," said Robert Halmi, Founder of Great Point Studios. "This partnership reflects our shared vision, and we're proud to welcome these productions to our campuses."

Halmi is a legendary, multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning producer credited with producing more than 400 films. Abbott is credited with popularizing the original Christmas movie genre, with more than 1,000 original holiday films over 15 years—the highest-rated and highest-volume output in the genre. Their shared legacy includes hundreds of acclaimed productions that have shaped family viewing habits for a generation.

The first movie as part of the agreement is Great American Media's A Christmas Spark starring Mario Lopez, which completed production earlier this summer at Great Point Studios Buffalo, the company's recently opened, state-of-the-art production facility. Additional films will be announced soon.

"It has been a joy to produce and star in A Christmas Spark, which is slated to premiere as part of the 5th Anniversary Edition of Great American Christmas this season," said Mario Lopez. "The talent, crew, and locations in Buffalo are top notch. A Christmas Spark is deeply personal to me—I witnessed firsthand the bravery of firefighters in my community during the recent LA wildfires. This film gave me a way to honor their heroism and tell a story that reflects their sacrifice."

ABOUT GREAT AMERICAN MEDIA 
Great American Media is home to a family-friendly portfolio of brands including Great American Family, Great American Pure Flix, and Great American Faith & Living. As the flagship linear TV network, Great American Family features original Christmas movies, rom-coms, and classic series that celebrate faith, family, and country. Great American Pure Flix is a leading faith and family streaming service that inspires, uplifts, and entertains with content you can confidently stream with the entire family. Other platforms include Great American Faith & Living, the unscripted companion to Great American Family that celebrates faith, family, and country every day and every season; Great American Adventures; and Pure Flix TV, a FAST channel (free ad-supported streaming TV). Great American Media was established in June 2021 by Bill Abbott and a group of U.S.-based family offices.

ABOUT GREAT POINT STUDIOS
Great Point Studios is a media-focused company specializing in film and television infrastructure. It was founded by Robert Halmi and Fehmi Zeko. Great Point Studios currently has locations in Yonkers, Atlanta, Buffalo, and Cardiff, Wales, with an additional location under construction in Newark, NJ. Prior to Great Point Studios, Robert Halmi was the founder of the Hallmark Channel and was President and CEO of Hallmark Entertainment. At Hallmark, Robert transformed the business from a small production company into one of the first modern studios, combining production, distribution, and broadcast under one roof. Under Halmi's leadership, Hallmark Entertainment produced over 2,000 hours of original content. He is an active member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and serves on the board of the International Emmy Committee.

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SOURCE Great American Media