Last night, UP TV unveiled their planned Christmas movie schedule! (would've posted it last night but I got too busy.). Here's a preview:
Press Release via UPtv:
UPtv’s Merry Offering is filled with more than 600 hours of Holiday Cheer including 17 premiere movies; the return of the ultimate Thanksgiving week Gilmore Girls binge-a-thon, GilMORE the Merrier; a new season of the unscripted series Small Town Christmas; and the television premiere of multi-platinum country artist Josh Turner’s King Size Manger Christmas Special.
ATLANTA – Sept. 21, 2022 – UPtv, the television home for uplifting entertainment, announced today a super-sized Christmas on the network with MORE original holiday movies, MORE specials and MORE chances to uplift or be uplifted than ever before. This holiday season UPtv will deliver the best in holiday entertainment while also celebrating the people and moments that bring joy.
In addition to 17 premiere movies, UPtv will debut multi-platinum country artist Josh Turner’s King Size Manger Christmas special on Friday, Nov 18, and a new season of unscripted series Small Town Christmas, highlighting Christmas celebrations across small town America. Additionally, annual fan-favorite GilMORE the Merrier is back with this year’s binge-a-thon hosted by Michael Winters who played Town Selectman Taylor Doose on the series. These premieres are part of UPtv’s collection of more than 600 hours of holiday cheer.
“With so many people needing to scale back in different ways this holiday season, we wanted to deliver an abundance of Christmas programming so uplifting, holiday cheer was plentiful for our viewers,” said Hector Campos, vice president, content strategy and acquisition at UPtv. “We are thrilled to provide them with our largest offering of Christmas programming yet that continues to celebrate the true spirit of the season. We have 17 of the very best Christmas movie premieres, the second season of Small Town Christmas, and the premiere of multi-platinum country artist Josh Turner’s King Size Manger Christmas special. Whether Christmas lovers are seeking a cozy romantic holiday escape, an uplifting story, or singing along with their favorite songs, we have a diverse slate with something for everyone this Christmas season.”
UPtv's Most Uplifting Christmas Ever, will have viewers “unwrapping” surprises and delights all season long with:
A sweepstakes that includes a $10,000 cash grand prize + $10,000 donation to a charity of their choice from a list of selected charities. Also includes weekly secondary prize winners
Interactive Merry Movie Christmas Watch Parties every weekend with polls, quizzes and more chances to win Daily surprises ranging from smaller donations and bonus content to special messages from our Christmas stars via a digital advent calendar beginning in December
UPliftSomeone.com, the destination for viewers to recognize those who uplift others, will be the hub for holiday content. We will ask viewers to share videos of themselves uplifting others by surprise and delight gift giving to friends, family, or even strangers, to help spread Christmas joy to those who could use some uplifting spirit this season.
As in previous years, the My UPtv Movies app is available for viewers to download and is especially popular around the holidays to track movie viewing. The tracker app allows viewers to learn more about upcoming movies and series on the network, watch previews and request personalized showtime alerts. Viewers can also “favorite” movie titles to add to a personal collection to easily access them later, set calendar reminders and request notifications or text messages. As an exciting update later this year, the app will allow for polls and giveaways during Merry Movie Christmas airings. Download the app: uptv.com/myapp
In 2021, UPtv’s Christmas Movies reached 18.4 million P2+1 and 4 million viewers2 tuned in to GilMORE the Merrier.
Full movie list link is right here: https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2022/09/uptvs-2022-christmas-movie-slate.html
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My take: Definitely looking forward to these delightful movies!
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Hallmark announced their lineup today as well. And it's result is, definitely less then positive. Here's a preview of that:
It may be the first day of fall, but for Hallmark Channel, that means it’s only one month away from their annual “Countdown to Christmas” and “Miracles of Christmas” events. Variety can exclusively reveal the 40 new movies coming this holiday season — 31 on Hallmark and 9 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
Beginning Friday, Oct. 21, the networks will both be airing around-the-clock holiday movies; additionally, the Hallmark Movies Now streaming service kicks off “Movies & Mistletoe,” providing subscribers with more than 150 Christmas movies with new content available each week.
This year’s “Countdown to Christmas” and “Miracles of Christmas” lineups include many new faces in the Hallmark world, as well as some returning favorites. In fact, leading men Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker and Paul Campbell will come together for the first time in “Three Wise Men and a Baby,” playing three brothers forced to work together to take care of a baby throughout the holidays. The face of Hallmark, Lacey Chabert, also returns for a record-breaking twelfth Christmas movie for the network, “Haul Out the Holly,” alongside Wes Brown.
Hallmark Media will celebrate the culture of Chinese Americans in two films, “A Big Fat Family Christmas” and “Christmas at the Golden Dragon.” Meanwhile, the Festival of Lights will be celebrated in “Hanukkah on Rye,” while “Holiday Heritage” is the network’s first-ever movie celebrating Kwanzaa.
For the first time, a Hallmark holiday movie features an LGBTQ couple as the focus in “The Holiday Sitter,” featuring Jonathan Bennett and George Krissa.
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will air the first Christmas movie under the Mahogany banner, “The Holiday Stocking,” starring Nadine Ellis, Tamala Jones, BJ Britt, Karon Riley and Mykelti Williamson. The network will also feature the first film under DaySpring, “The Gift of Peace,” starring Nikki DeLoach and Brennan Elliott.
Full puke worthy movie list is listed here: https://variety.com/lists/hallmark-countdown-to-christmas-lineup-2022-schedule/
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My important take: I knew the lineup would be bad. but this is worse then I thought. Not only do most of these look sheer awful, but Kwanza?! Do these blockheads have any idea who celebrates that fake holiday and why???!! 😩 Sigh. I don't have beef with Jews or Chinese Americans, but I have zero interest in watching new movies celebrating their holidays.
Countdown to Christmas used to be my favorite tradition, and Hallmark has now completely ruined it.
Don't be too et down though, I fully prepared for tis in advance. I've been buying DVD's of lots of past movies from the network that I loved from past years so I don't have to keep junking up the DVR with them. I'll keep the tradition going in my own way. The right way.