25 Days of Christmas

The 25 Days of Christmas (also known as ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas, previously known as Fox Family's 25 Days of Christmas) is an annual programming block that has been shown on ABC Family and its predecessors since 1996. As the title implies, the special is shown every year from December 1 to December 25, showing classic holiday programming (such as Rankin/Bass' classic TV specials), as well as new television movies each year. However, in 2006, the channel aired fewer seasonal films, such as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, as well as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In 2007, ABC Family acquired basic cable premiere rights to The Incredibles, and in 2008 it will acquire Cars and The Chronicles of Narnia for the block (all three movies being produced by The Walt Disney Company, ABC Family's parent company).

List of Original Specials

 * 1996 - Home and Family Christmas Special
 * Holiday Beefs

List of Original Movies
Most years, at least one new TV film is produced for the channel. However, starting in 2004, two TV films were produced. In 2007, three films were created for the channel, due to the popularity generated from the previous year. 

The Family Channel's 25 Days of Christmas
 * 1996 - Christmas Every Day
 * 1997 - The Christmas List

Fox Family's 25 Days of Christmas
 * 1998 - Like Father, Like Santa
 * 1999 - Ghosts of Christmas Eve
 * 2000 - Special Delivery

ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas
 * 2001 - Donner; Three Days
 * 2002 - None.
 * 2003 - Celine Dion, One Year, One Heart
 * 2004 - Red Boots for Christmas; Snow
 * 2005 - Christmas in Boston; Chasing Christmas
 * 2006 - Santa Baby; Christmas Do-Over
 * 2007 - Christmas Caper; Holiday in Handcuffs; Snowglobe
 * 2008 - Snow 2 Brain Freeze; Christmas in Wonderland

Christmas Specials
The following specials are presently being featured during the programming block:
 * Little Drummer Boy
 * The Little Drummer Boy, Book II
 * Twas the Night Before Christmas
 * The Cat in the Hat
 * Dr. Seuss on the Loose
 * Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
 * The Cricket on the Hearth
 * The Year Without a Santa Claus
 * Frosty's Winter Wonderland
 * Rudolph's Shiny New Year
 * Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
 * Jack Frost
 * The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
 * Pinocchio's Christmas
 * Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys
 * Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey

Past Christmas Specials

 * How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (still airs on sister outlet ABC, although owned by Time Warner and also airs on TBS and Cartoon Network)
 * Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (owned by CBS)
 * Frosty the Snowman (owned by CBS)
 * Frosty Returns (owned and created by CBS)

Countdown to The 25 Days of Christmas
In 2007, due to popular ratings from the previous year, ABC Family launched the first official countdown to the programming block, which began on November 23, the day after Thanksgiving.

Although this is the first official early start, in recent years, holiday programming has begun during the last week of November, showing mostly older original films, some of which pertained to Christmas and some that did not. This year, for the first time, ABC family is airing Cars and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

According to an ABC Family press release, the company will continue this for 2008, with programming beginning November 16.