Despite the ongoing summer heatwave, a dedicated Christmas movie channel has launched on Freeview channel 52, offering 24/7 festive programming. Great! launched its "Great Christmas" channel on Wednesday, August 26, approximately 120 days before December 25.
The channel will broadcast 186 Christmas films, with 42 making their debut on the platform, and will continue its holiday programming until January. Last year, Great Christmas was reported as the most popular Christmas-only channel in the UK during the September to December period, accumulating 14.5 million minutes of viewing time.
This early launch is a strategic move by TV executives at Great!, targeting a segment of the British public who, according to a survey, would happily watch Christmas films year-round. Kate Gartland, Marketing Director at Great TV, stated that the programming is designed to build excitement for the holiday season and that the earlier start is based on the success of last year's festive content.
Among the films scheduled are "Nine Kittens of Christmas," "The Christmas Ticket," "Annie Claus is Coming To Town," "A Christmas Switch," "Christmas Ever After," "Snowmance," "Northpole two Open for Christmas," "Christmas Unwrapped," "The Magical Christmas Shoes," "Once Upon a Christmas Miracle," "The Perfect Christmas Village," "Christmas with a Crown," and "The Royal Nanny."