Great American Media announced on September 21, 2026, that it has expanded its partnership with Minivela, the Latino media entertainment and production company co-founded by media entrepreneur Manny Ruiz and actor-producer Carlos Ponce, to support the creation and production of Pure Flix Familia, a new streaming destination created for Latino families. Minivela will serve as the platform’s programming, content and creative partner, working closely with Great American Media and Pure Flix leadership on original programming, content development, creator relationships, licensing, cultural strategy and audience engagement.
The move matters because it positions Great American Media to reach one of the fastest-growing and most underserved audiences in U.S. entertainment: Latino families seeking faith-and-family programming. Pure Flix Familia is scheduled to launch in early October with Spanish-language entertainment and will expand over time to include bilingual and English-language programming created and curated for Latino audiences. The service is part of Great American Media’s broader strategy to grow its faith-and-family entertainment ecosystem and reach new audiences with programming families can confidently enjoy together.
“Pure Flix Familia represents an important expansion of Great American Media’s mission to serve families with trusted entertainment grounded in faith and shared values,” said Bill Abbott, President and CEO of Great American Media. “Manny, Carlos and the Minivela team bring a strong creative instinct and a deep understanding of Latino audiences and a commitment to faith and family entertainment.”
Ruiz, CEO and co-founder of Minivela, will lead Minivela’s work as programming, creative and content strategy partner, collaborating with Great American Media and Pure Flix executives to identify original programming opportunities, cultivate relationships with Latino creators and producers, and advise on the platform’s cultural and audience strategy. “This is an opportunity to work alongside Great American Media to build a streaming destination that understands Latino families and reflects their faith, values, experiences and aspirations,” Ruiz said.
Ponce will play a key creative and audience-facing role, supporting the development of Pure Flix Familia’s creative identity, helping establish relationships with actors, writers, filmmakers and other creators, and contributing to audience-engagement initiatives. He is also expected to participate as on-screen talent in future projects. “Authenticity begins by ensuring that the people and communities we hope to serve have a meaningful voice in the creative process,” Ponce said.
Minivela will help develop original movies, series and mobile-first microdramas; identify potential content and acquisition opportunities; cultivate emerging and established Latino talent; and advise on programming, social media, community partnerships and audience-growth initiatives. The expanded relationship gives Minivela a broader leadership role in the development and operation of Pure Flix Familia, while Great American Media retains responsibility for business operations and final approval over brand, budget, programming, acquisitions and distribution.
The partnership builds upon a previously announced development, distribution and marketing relationship initially focused on producing mobile-first microdramas for U.S. Hispanic and Latin American audiences. For the entertainment industry, the launch signals growing competition for Latino viewers and could spur more investment in culturally specific faith-based content. For viewers, it promises a new source of family-friendly programming that reflects their language and experiences. Additional details about Pure Flix Familia’s launch programming, subscription options, supported devices and availability will be announced separately.
