Hallmark Channel knows holiday TV programming. |
For many Christmas TV movie fans, the Hallmark Channel is the location to start. With good reason, in 2014, Hallmark will be airing 12 new Christmas TV movies alongside many more from their archives. If you didn't already know--the movie marathon has already begun--it started Friday, October 31--and continues all day and all night through the end of December. They debut their new holiday movies on Saturday and Sunday nights. HERE'S a link to their programming schedule.
Hallmark's sister channel--Hallmark Movies and Mysteries (it used to be called more simply Hallmark Movies but re-branded itself earlier this year)--also runs new Christmas TV movies and older classics. In fact, the older holiday movies they broadcast are pulled from a deeper archive--so this is the place to see some of your older Hallmark Christmas TV movie favorites. HMM also runs classic theatrical release Christmas movies on Thursday nights. Now it's much easier to see vintage favorites such as Holiday Affair, Christmas in Connecticut, The Bishop's Wife, and more. Click HERE for more about Classic Christmas Thursdays on HMM. Last year was the first year HMM debuted a new Christmas TV movie--this year they premiere two new movies. Click HERE for those titles and dates. And, just like the Hallmark Channel, HMM has already begun their holiday programming--which will continue through the end of the holidays. Click HERE for the link to the complete schedule.
ABC Family Channel is another major source of holiday programming every year. But I didn't need to tell you that, right? We're all familiar with their marathons of Christmas animation, Christmas movies, and family-friendly entertainment. ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas programming marathon begin Dec. 1st. In 2014, I don't see any new Christmas TV movies on the schedule. However, they are debuting a new animated half-hour special based on the popular movie franchise Toy Story--on Sun. Dec 7th. 25 Days of Christmas schedule also highlights the Christmas episodes of the ABC Family channel original series. Their schedule does include older Christmas movie favorites--but not new movies. That's okay. So far, I can only find their complete holiday schedule listed on a social networking site--I'm sure it'll be on their website closer to December. Until then, HERE'S the link to the 25 Days of Christmas Facebook page.
UP network (formerly GMC) also debuts new Christmas TV movies--as well as showing older ones. This year, the schedule looks exciting. Click HERE for long list of Christmas TV movies airing on UP. Of these movies--seven are brand new and two are British movies (Nativity! and Nativity! 2 are already on DVD, but new to UP). For the UP network Christmas programming highlights schedule, click HERE.
Grump Cat--an adorable internet sensation! |
Lifetime is another source for original Christmas TV movies. As far as I can tell, they haven't posted their Christmas TV movie schedule yet. I don't know what they are waiting on--posting a schedule allows viewers to plan on watching. I'm usually frustrated with their website--so this is nothing new. Lifetime does hold a large catalog of older Christmas TV movies--check out this long list. I did see promotional presence for a new Christmas TV special they're debuting the weekend after Thanksgiving: Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever. I can't wait!
Other networks known to schedule Christmas and holiday movies during November and December each year include Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Ion Television, INSP, Comedy Central, and Syfy. I'm still waiting for Christmas movie schedules from these networks. Perhaps closer to December, they'll post one. In the meantime, I'll do my best to wait patiently--sort of.
If you're interested in my suggestions for Christmas TV movies available for viewing on DVD, click HERE to see that essay again.
If you'd like reminders of the new Christmas TV movie debuts and other exciting holiday TV programming, don't forget to follow my Facebook page Tis The Season TV and/or my tweets at @TisTheSeasonTV. Where on the metaphorical television dial do you watch your favorite Christmas movies? Feel free to share in the comments below.
As a Canadian, these lists taunt me :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome round-up, Joanna! Here's to a great Christmas season ahead. Watching The Note right now. Been a favorite since it premiered. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. If anyone doesn't have access to the channels mentioned above, you may still want to check out each individual network's website. In years past, I've seen several of them streaming movies during the holidays. If they aren't streaming them yet--check again after Thanksgiving (end of November.)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder about the other channels. I've learned by following your social media that when I want to watch Christmas movies every night the week after Halloween, Hallmark is always my first stop. :)
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