2016 Christmas TV Listings

It's the most wonderful time of the year, isn't it? The Christmas TV movies have already begun airing.  I've started my tweets (@TisTheSeasonTV) and daily postings on the Facebook page Tis The Season TV making suggestions for viewing--calling them SET YOUR DVRs.  The viewing options during November and December each year can get a little overwhelming.  A few years ago, I wrote an essay about which TV networks generally broadcast new Christmas TV movies and older classics.  You can read that post again HERE.  Let me update you with the details of where to find holiday programming for 2016.

For many Christmas TV movie fans, the Hallmark Channel is the network schedule to check first.  With good reason, in 2016, Hallmark will be airing 20 new Christmas TV movies alongside many classics from their archives.  If you didn't already know--the movie marathon has already begun--it started Friday, October 28th--and continues all day and all night through the end of December.  They typically debut their new holiday movies on Saturday and Sunday nights.  HERE'S the link to the list of Christmas TV movie premieres. The daily schedule of their holiday movies can be found on their website HERE.

Hallmark's sister channel--Hallmark Movies and Mysteries--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.

This is the forth year that HMM is premiering their own new Christmas TV movies--this year they have seven 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 HMM Christmas movie schedule.

Freeform (formerly known as 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.  Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas programming marathon begin Dec. 1st. Click HERE for the schedule.

UP Network also debuts new family-friendly Christmas TV movies as well as showing older favorites.  This year, the schedule looks exciting. Of these movies--seven are brand new ones.  I'm excited to see Merry Christmas, Baby--the fourth movie in the series that started with Marry Me for Christmas, Marry Us for Christmas, and A Baby for Christmas. For the UP network Christmas programming highlights schedule, click HERE.

ION Television's schedule is filled with holiday movies too. Look for those on Saturday and Sunday nights. This year, they are debuting five new Christmas TV movies as well as airing favorites from the past. Click HERE for the complete schedule.

But one of the MOST EXCITING holiday programming schedules has to be GetTV. They have pulled out all the stops! What I'm most looking forward to watching are the five Perry Como Christmas specials, the Mac Davis Christmas Special, and the Father Knows Best Christmas TV movie reunion. GetTV is also airing Christmas episodes of 80s TV series and nearly forgotten TV westerns. There's so much good stuff on their schedule, I'm overwhelmed--and you should be too. This is an abundance of riches. Check out the full GetTV holiday schedule here.

Of course, the major networks have their holiday programming as well. NBC is already promoting their annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center concert followed by the Christmas TV movie Dolly Parton's Christmas Coat of Many Colors airing on Wednesday, Nov. 30th starting at 8pm(ET). On Wednesday, Dec. 14th, NBC will also host The Pentatonix Christmas Special. The a capella group will welcome guests Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, and more. Lots to look forward to.

ABC is once again airing the variety special CMA Country Christmas hosted by Jennifer Nettles. It airs Monday, Nov. 28th.  And, CBS is airing their annual A Home for the Holidays--a music special which brings awareness to adoption. It airs Friday, Dec. 23, at 8pm(ET). CBS is also airing the animated classics Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Frosty Returns, and The Story of Santa Claus. Check your local listings for dates and times. I'm sure even more holiday TV programming will be announced soon. 

I'm especially interested in the schedules announcing classic Christmas episodes to air on retro-programming networks like MeTV, AntennaTV, CoziTV, and more. I'll do my best to wait patiently--sort of.

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 and specials?  Feel free to share in the comments below.