Christmas TV is not just entertainment, but a major cultural tradition that lasts throughout the holiday season (from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day).
Here is a detailed look at the world of Christmas TV in the United States:
- Dominance of Hollywood Movie Channel
Rom-Com makes up the lion’s share of Christmas TV, airing continuosly for two months on a few select channels:
- Hallmark Channel
- Name: ‘Countdown to Christmas’
- Speciality: Consider the pioneer of this trend, it premieres dozens of new, original films each other. Their films follow a specific formula: a city girl/boy arrives in a small, snowy town, meets a local, initially has a falling out, then falls in love amidst the magic of Christmas, and finally has a perfect kiss.
- Example: Films coming in 2025 include ‘A Keller Christmas Vacation’ and ‘Three Wisest Men’.
- Great American Family (GAF)
- Name: ‘Great American Christmas’
- Speciality: It produces similar films to Hallmark, but often places a great emphasis on traditional and religious Christmas values. This channel also launches several news films each year.
- Example: Films like ‘Christmas in Midnight Clear’ and ‘A Very Curious Christmas’ are included in the 2025 schedule.
- Lifetime Channel
- Speciality: This channel also shows holiday movies, but sometimes tries to bring a little more diverse themes and plots, such as mysteries or more series stories.
- Classic Animated Specials (The Enduring Power of Classics)
There are some Christmas programs that Americans of every generation enjoy watching. These are often considered ‘must-watch’ traditions:
- Stop-Motion Classics:
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964): This stop-motion story of Rudolph has been popular for decades, and broadcasting it on national television is a ritual.
- Frosty the Strowman (1969): The story of a magical snowman.
- Animated Favorites:
- Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966): The cartoon tells the story of the Grinch’s change of heart.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): The special featuring Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang depicts the true and simple meaning of Christmas, including a biblical quote.
- Major Events and Musical Specials
During Christmas, major TV Networks (ABC, NBC, CBS) broadcast special events:
- The Lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: This is a grand ceremony to light the giant Christmas tree at New York City’s Rockefeller Center, featuring live music performances from major celebrities.
- CMA Country Christmas: The country music industry’s annual holiday special.
- Disney/ABC Holiday Specials: Musical and parade specials hosted by Disney Parks (such as Walt Disney World and Disneyland), often airing on or around Christmas Day.
- Variety/Musical Specials: Holiday specials presented by famous hosts or performers, such as Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular, featuring a mix of guests and music.
- Christmas Episodes of Regular Shows
- Popular mainstream TV shows (sitcoms and dramas) also air one or two special Christmas episodes during the holiday season.
- Examples: Christmas episodes of The Office, Friends, and Modern Family are very popular and are often viewed year-round on streaming services (like Peacock).
- Influence of Streaming Platforms
Now, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Prime Video are not far behind. They also release new and high-budget holiday films and series every year to attract their audience.
Examples: A Merry Little Ex-Mas (Netflix) or Joy to the World (Hulu/Disney+).
Why is Christmas TV So Popular
It is an important part of American culture because it:
- Nostalgia: Classic specials remind people of their childhood and old, simple holidays.
- Escapism: Hallmark and GAF movies depict a happy, stress-free world where problems are always resolved by Christmas time.
- Family Bonding: These shows are often considered safe and appropriate for the entire family, making them a great activity to watch together.
Christmas TV in America is truly a “season” that brings joy and holiday spirit to millions of homes.
Historical Evolution of US Christmas TV
Christmas programming on TV is not new; it has a rich history dating back to the early days of television.
- Early Era (1950s: The Era of Live Spectaculars):
- ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ (1951): This was the first “made-for-television” opera and the first Christmas special to be broadcast annually. It was based on a religious (Nativity) theme.
- During this era, many Christmas specials were live musicals and variety shows, featuring major stars such as Bing Crosby, Perry Como, and Andy Williams.
- The Rise of Animated Specials (1960s and 70s: The Golden Age of Animation):
- This was the period when the Rankin/Bass production company released a flurry of stop-motion animated classics:
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964): This was a game-changer, popularizing original and fantasy stories.
- Frosty and Snowman (1969), The Little Drummer Boy, and A Year Without a Santa Claus.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): This proved to be a huge success, contrary to the expectations of CBS executives. Its simplicity, jazzy soundtrack, and emphasis on the true meaning of Christmas made it a timeless classic.
- Shows from the era defined the holiday season for children and are still watched by generations.
- The Dominance of Modern Movies (1980s onwards: The Rise of Modern Movies Classics):
- 24-Hour Marathons: The 24-hour marathon of A Christmas Story (1983), airing on TNT since 1997, has become an integral part of American TV tradition.
- It’s a Wonderful Life (1964) has been broadcast on TV for a long time, making it a holiday classic.
The Hallmark Effect: The Romantic Christmas Film Phenomenon
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- Hallmark Channel’s Strategy:
- ‘Countdown to Christmas‘ programming begins in late October and capitalizes on the long holiday season.
- Formulaic Comfort: The plot of the film is almost always the same:
- Protagonist: A successful but unfulfilled big-city woman.
- Catalyst: Returning to a small town (such as ‘Mistletoe Falls’ or ‘Christmas Creek’) due to a business crisis, inheritance, or family obligation.
- Love Interest: An attractive, local, unmaterialistic man (often a baker, carpenter, or innkeeper).
- Conflict: The woman’s big-city career versus small-town love/family values.
- Resolution: After a misunderstanding, the protagonist chooses love and community over career ambitions just before Christmas, leading to a perfect kiss.
- Socio-Cultural Analysis:
- These movies offer audiences escapism-a world where evil never triumphs, love always prevails, and every problem is solved by the spirit of Christmas.
- These emphasize traditional values, often prioritizing family, community, and simplicity over career ambition.
- Comfort Viewing: Viewers know what the ending will be, and this certainly gives them a sense of comfort and security.
Current Trends and Challenges
- The Rise of Streaming:
- Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Max: These platforms are now competing with traditional TV channels and producing high-budget original holiday films and series.
- Examples: Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles of A Christmas Prince series.
- Accessibility Issues: Classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas are no longer available for free on traditional network TV, but must be viewed on streaming platforms like Apple TV+, which has angered some viewers.
- Diversity and Inclusion:
- Initially, Hallmark and Lifetime were criticized for a lack of equal representation in their films.
- In response, in recent years, the channels have brought more diversity to their programming by including LGBTQ+ lead characters, actors from different ethnic backgrounds, and stories based on Jewish themes (Hanukkah).
- The Allure of Real-Life Events:
- NYE Specials: After Christmas, live New Year’s Eve TV specials like ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ (from Times Square on ABC) are another major event on American TV, marking the end of the holiday season.
- The Significance of Christmas TV:
- Family Tradition: For many American families, watching these specials is a fixed holiday event-like decorating the Christmas tree or baking cookies.
- Engine of Nostalgia: It brings people together emotionally, evokes old memories, and bridges the generational gaps.
- Contribution to the Economy: This programming drives the TV advertising market during the holiday season, boosting the retail and consumer economy.
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Every year, XMas Day is celebrated on 25 December. Christmas Eve is celebrated because it is traditionally believed that Jesus was born on the night of December 24.
How many days is Christmas celebrated? Xmas is celebrated with great pomp for 12 days. These are the 12 days from December 25th to January 5th.
Many Christians celebrated the night of the twelfth by making special meals.
A few days before XMas, we start wishing our friends and relatives a merry Christmas and a new year, but the night of 24th December is the most important day when we celebrate this day fully, which lasts till morning. And some days we enjoy it in different ways.
Ok, now let’s go to our topic, how to stream Christmas TV on a Roku Player or Roku TV?
There are many XMas apps available on the Roku channel store to listen to Christmas music and watch movies. You can install any app you like.
Right now, we are going to tell you how to install the Christmas TV Retro Classic app, after installing which you will be able to watch XMas movies and music on your Roku device. So, let’s know how to install the Christmas TV app on Roku.
- Take your Roku remote and press the home button
- Tap the down arrow button to select ‘Streaming Channels‘
- Tap the down arrow again to select the ‘Search Channels‘
- Type ‘Christmas TV‘ and Search
- Select the Christmas TV app and click Add Channel
- In a few moments, it will be installed, and open it to launch and enjoy your favorite Christmas TV on your Roku device
Install the Christmas TV app by following the steps above, and watch XMas movies and shows on your Home Screen.
FAQ About Christmas TV
Q: Where Can I Watch Classic Christmas Online For Free?
Ans: YouTube is a great streaming source to watch classic Christmas movies online for free. Yes, you have to endure some ads, but you will get to watch content for free. The names of 10 classic Christmas movies are shared here:
- A Christmas Carol
- Crazy For Christmas
- The Man In The Santa Claus Suit
- A Mom For Christmas
- On The Second Day Of Christmas
- When Angels Come to Town
- The Christmas Tree
- Golden Winter
- Christmas Trade
- The Christmas Candle
Q: What Is the Christmas Channel on TV in the US?
Ans: In the United States, the Hallmark Channel is the most well-known channel for Christmas movies and special programming, known for its annual “Countdown to Christmas” event.
In addition, channels such as Lifetime and Great American Family also air extensive Christmas programming during the holiday season.
Q: Where Can I Watch Christmas TV?
Ans: You can watch Christmas TV shows on cable channels (like Hallmark, Lifetime, Freeform) and major streaming services.
- Streaming Services: Platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Max (HBO Max), Prime Video, and Peacock offer a wide selection of holiday movies and specials each other.
- Hallmark+: Hallmark also has its own streaming platform, Hallmark Movies Now (or Hallmark+), to watch its movies.
