If you thought Christmas creep was getting out of hand, brace yourself: the “GREAT! Christmas” channel is launching on September 4 with round-the-clock festive programming until January 6.
Yes, you read that right – Christmas films in September. Before the leaves have even properly turned autumn colours, you’ll be able to watch Christmas romances and family favourites from 8am on the first Wednesday of next month.
The channel returns to Freeview Channel 52, Sky 319, Virgin Media 424 and streaming via the Great! Player, temporarily replacing Great! Romance for its four-month festive takeover.
Sadly, Freesat viewers will not be able to join the festivities, since all the Great! Channels were removed from the free satellite service in 2024.
What’s On This Year
GREAT! Christmas promises several notable additions to its schedule, including the UK terrestrial debut of Christmas in the Caribbean starring Liz Hurley and Caroline Quentin – because nothing says Christmas quite like a tropical getaway, apparently.
There’s also Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays featuring Priscilla Presley, plus the channel’s own 2024 production Christmas at Plumhill Manor, funded by parent company Narrative Entertainment.
Brand new Christmas titles airing this year include:
- Christmas in the Caribbean
- A Christmas Love Story
- Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays
- Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy
- Christmas Under the Stars
- Once Upon a Christmas Miracle
- Our Christmas Love Song
- The Christmas Club
Returning favourites from last year’s lineup include:
- My Christmas Wish
- Maggie’s Christmas Miracle
- Miracle in the Highlands
- Christmas at Plumhill Manor
- My Sweet Holiday
- Charming Christmas
- Christmas Wedding Planner
- Christmas at Holly Lodge
- A Star-Crossed Christmas
- Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa
Steve Hornsey from Narrative Entertainment isn’t apologising for the early start: “Forget the naysayers, everybody loves Christmas – and the earlier it starts, the better.”
The company claims GREAT! Christmas was Britain’s favourite seasonal channel last year, watched by one in three UK adults – though that statistic covers the more traditional September to December period.
About the Great! Network
For those unfamiliar, GREAT! Christmas is part of the broader Great! TV network operated by Narrative Entertainment – with channels that used to be owned by Sony Pictures Television.
The Great! channels focus primarily on feel-good content – romance films, family movies, and seasonal programming. Great! Romance runs year-round (except during the Christmas takeover), whilst Great! Movies offers a broader selection of films throughout the year.
All content is available through the Great! Player app as well as traditional TV platforms, giving viewers flexibility in how they watch.
However, as mentioned, the Great! channels (including the upcoming Christmas channel) are not available on Freesat.
More Christmas Channels Coming
GREAT! Christmas won’t be alone in its early festive programming. Sky typically launches its own seasonal offerings in the run-up to December, whilst “That’s Christmas” – part of the That’s TV network – usually appears on Freeview later in the autumn.
These channels tend to focus on classic Christmas films, seasonal specials, and holiday-themed programming, giving viewers plenty of free festive options beyond the main broadcasters’ Christmas schedules.
If September feels too late to start your Christmas viewing (and frankly, why wait?), you can find year-round Christmas film collections on ITVX, Channel 4’s streaming service, and on BBC iPlayer.
Is September Too Early?
Whether launching Christmas programming on September 4 feels premature or perfectly timed probably depends on your tolerance for tinsel and your need for feel-good entertainment.
GREAT! Christmas clearly believes there’s an audience for year-round festive content, and given their viewing figures, they might be onto something.
For viewers who prefer their Christmas viewing closer to the actual date, the good news is there’s no shortage of alternatives. But for those ready to embrace the festive spirit whilst it’s still beach weather, GREAT! Christmas has you covered.
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I’m used to it by now that the Sony owned channels tend to start at the same time of year. However I object to the fact that they don’t show the classics even if they’ve updated them to this century.
This is why I don’t watch their channel.
Give me the classics anyway even the Alistair Sims brilliantly acted version.
Aw I have to have Freesat to get any telly, and LOVED watching Xmas movies alongside making Xmas goodies for craft fayres. Christmas is ruined!!! 🎄ðŸ˜ðŸ“´
Not for me at this point in the year but if it makes someone happy, who am I to complain
There’s always one 🙄
Bah! Humbug!
More Xmas tv in September