New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Road trips, flea markets, retro RVs and unexpected characters helped Great American Country (GAC) deliver ratings that are 14% higher than last year. GAC's 400 hours of lifestyle programming, which includes the Emmy-nominated Flea Market Flip, starring design enthusiast and Good Morning
America anchor Lara Spencer, is up 19% versus last season and is on track for its best season yet. The hit series showcases duos who compete to repurpose flea market finds for a profit.
Junk Gypsies, with siblings Amie and Jolie Sikes, also continues to build a fan base on the network. Ratings for the most recent season of the series grew 71% among viewers P25-54 versus the prior season. A third season, which counts musical artists
Miranda Lambert and Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong among featured stars, is on tap for premiere Monday, June 1, at 8 p.m. ET. Another strong performer, Flippin' RVs, which highlights the restoration of vintage recreational vehicles, has been renewed for a second season.
"Our ratings are at a six-year high, so we are very focused on building our awareness and sustaining our growth," said
Allison Page, general manager, Great American Country, HGTV and DIY Network. "GAC just ended its most upscale quarter ever with a median income that is at an all-time high, so we are delivering an audience that advertisers covet."
In the first quarter of 2015, the network generated significant pop culture and social media buzz with premieres of original series featuring celebrities with well-established fan bases experiencing life around the country. Off the Map with Shannen & Holly followed actors Shannen Doherty and Holly Marie Combs as they participated in extraordinary local activities during an excursion through six states in the Southeast. A Very Barry Branson showcased entertainer Barry Williams, well known for his role as oldest brother Greg Brady on the classic family sitcom The Brady Bunch, as he launched a 70s-inspired variety show and tried to assimilate into the distinctive local community of Branson, Missouri.
GAC expects the newest addition to its programming lineup, Made from America, premiering on Thursday, April 30, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, to help broaden its audience. The series follows retro T-shirt entrepreneur Gabe Johnson as he travels the country seeking design inspiration from small businesses—including independent bars, diners and retail establishments. Once the T-shirt design is complete, Gabe gifts a portion of the proceeds from the sales to the local business to help bolster its long-term success.
Made from
America joins a programming slate that includes ratings drivers Barnwood Builders featuring master craftsmen from West Virginia who salvage antique barns or cabins and reuse the wood to build modern homes and Living Alaska, which captures the lifestyles of people who appreciate the state for its unspoiled beauty. In March, Pinks All Out, a series about the best drag racers in the country, premiered with ratings that were 25% higher than the prior year.
"We're clearly on the right track with our programming strategy," laughed Page.
Here are more details about upcoming premieres and new episodes on GAC:
New Series Premieres:
Made from America
Series premiere: Thursday, April 30, at 9 p.m. ET
Retro T-shirt designer Gabe Johnson crisscrosses
America in search of iconic restaurants, mom-and-pop shops and other classic haunts to find inspiration for his custom tees in Made from America. We'll meet the heroes behind these small-town businesses and witness how one man with a vintage t-shirt vision is giving back.
Returning Series:
Flippin' RVs
New episodes premiere: Wednesday, April 1, at 9 p.m. ET
Flipping RVs follows young married couple Justin and Anna Scribner as they scour the countryside looking for vintage RVs and trailers to return to their former glory. These RV pickers will stop at nothing in their search for obscure and valuable trailers.
Junk Gypsies
New episodes premiere: Monday, June 1, at 8 p.m. ET
Texas-based sisters Amie and Jolie Sikes search thrift stores and roadside sales for vintage items on their trash-to-treasure missions. Each episode features the Sikes' as they transform their haul of "junk" into beautiful décor items they use in signature room designs.
Flea Market Flip
New episodes premiere: Sunday, July 5, at 8 p.m. ET
Flea markets are filled with hidden treasures, but you have to know where to look. In Flea Market Flip, two teams go head-to-head to see who can make the most money transforming unexpected diamonds in the rough into high dollar gems. Each team is given $500 along with a list of items they need to find and buy in one hour. They then get 24 hours to transform and 24 hours to sell their refurbished items. In the end, the team that makes the most net profit wins $5,000.
ABOUT GREAT AMERICAN COUNTRY
Great American Country, sister network to HGTV and DIY Network, delivers original lifestyle programming coast-to-coast to viewers in more than 62 million US households. Hit original series include Flippin' RVs, Junk Gypsies, Barn Hunters, Off the Map With Shannen & Holly starring Shannen Doherty and Holly Marie Combs, and Flea Market Flip, hosted by design enthusiast and Good Morning
America anchor Lara Spencer. Learn more, and discover where you can watch GAC using the "Find Us" tool at gactv.com.
