Christmas is coming once again to UPtv! The network has announced their Christmas Movie slate for the 2024 Holiday season with over 50 days and 100 hours of programming.
Starting November 1st, UPtv will celebrate the season with 12 premiere movies on its channel along with a Gaither TV music special!
The press release below has the full details...
UPtv Press Release:
UPtv’S MOST UPLIFTING CHRISTMAS EVER
RETURNS NOVEMBER 1
UPtv’s very merry offering is filled with over 500 hours of holiday cheer
including 12 premiere movies and a Gaither Music Christmas Special
“Christmas is the time of year when families really come together. When people go out of their way to be kinder and to feel the joy that the season can bring,” said Hector Campos, SVP, content strategy and acquisition at UP Entertainment. “Our curated collection of uplifting movies provides a relaxing escape where not only will viewers see great holiday romances, but also they’ll get so much more as our movies highlight the true meaning of Christmas and that the magic isn't just about that final kiss.”
For a third year, UPtv will celebrate the season of giving and spreading holiday cheer with a “Most Uplifting Christmas Ever” Sweepstakes. One lucky grand prize winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize and an additional $10,000 will be donated to the charity of their choice by UPtv. The sweepstakes will be available for entry on the uptv.com website from November 1 – December 31.
In addition to UPtv’s holiday offering, subscription streaming service UP Faith & Family begins Christmas on Nov. 1st with over 200 Christmas favorites as part of "Cozy UP to Christmas." Thirty-two titles are being added for subscribers to watch this season.
The My UPtv 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. Download the app: uptv.com/myapp
UPtv’s holiday season programming highlights include:
Country Roads Christmas – Sunday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. ET
When the daughter of a country singer loses her job at a record label, she goes off to become her estranged father’s manager and finds love along the way.
Stars: Lanie McAuley, Bo Yokely, Bailey Chase
The Case of the Christmas Diamond - Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. ET
Blue-collar Andy finds herself accused of theft when a multi-million-dollar gem suddenly goes missing from her rich friend's estate. With the help of a famous mystery writer, Andy must find the real culprit amid the litany of wealthy guests.
Stars: William Baldwin, Kelly Daly, Dey Young
Christmas in Rockwell – Sunday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. ET
When a big town star goes home to her small town to celebrate Christmas, confusion and romance lead the holiday festivities.
Stars: Trish Stratus, Stephen Huszar, Sheila McCarthy
Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays – Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. ET
When an egotistical social media influencer's dog is kidnapped, her long-suffering assistant teams up with a charming local vet to find the puppy before Christmas. As the two investigate suspects, they form a romantic bond along the way.
Stars: Vivica A. Fox, Sara Ball, Noah Fearnley
A Very English Christmas – Sunday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. ET
Christmas in the English countryside wasn’t in Emma’s plans until her sister, Amy, plans her wedding for Christmas Eve. Dylan, Amy’s co-Christmas market owner, teams up with Emma to bring order to the whirlwind wedding.
Stars: Kimberly Nixon, Poppy Gilbert, Lewis Griffiths
The Search for Secret Santa – Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. ET
Cub reporter Sofia thinks she's found a Christmas story that will save her career when she discovers a long-lost, undelivered Secret Santa gift addressed from B. to Claire.
Stars: Skye Coyne, Alex Trumble, Jackée Harry
Festival of Trees – Sunday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. ET
Jacquie Miller is an interior designer desperate to catch a break. The city’s annual Festival of Trees decorating competition, known for putting local artists on the map, may be just the answer! But competing with the city’s top designers is not for the faint of heart. With the help of her quirky assistant, a charming stranger and an inspirational young girl, Jacquie embarks on a humor-filled and heart-warming journey to create a tree that will knock the stockings off Santa himself.
Stars: Kate Miner, Greg Perrow, Josie Davis
A Prince and Pauper Christmas – Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. ET
When a down-on-his luck confidential informant in a criminal investigation suddenly goes missing, a desperate young federal agent recruits his doppelgänger to play the role.
Stars: Brittany Underwood, Jonathan Stoddard, Tom Arnold
A Bluegrass Christmas – Sunday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. ET
Katie’s family’s horse sanctuary is on the brink of closure, but in a last-ditch effort to raise the money, Katie must coax her reclusive grandfather, Bluegrass legend Ben Pendleton, back onto the stage for a Christmas benefit concert.
Stars: Amanda Jordan, David Pinard, Shaun Johnston
12 Dares of Christmas – Sunday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. ET
A teacher’s quiet holiday season gets a jolt of spice when she accepts a 12 Dares of Christmas challenge from her sister while scrambling to ready her town for a Christmas exchange program with a suave, opinionated French teacher.
Stars: Brittany Underwood, Sean Yves Lessard, Marnie Mahannah
A Novel Christmas – Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. ET
When a successful children's book author Chloe Anderson heads to the cozy town of Noelville to spend time with her sister's family and help care for her recently widowed father, she didn't expect the instant-connection with the local bookstore owner and single dad, Ethan; or find her number one fan in his daughter, Alex. Will the small town's charms be enough to rekindle a grieving family's Christmas spirit along Chloe's dreams of writing her first novel - let alone a chance at love?
Stars: Brigitte Kingsley, Landy Cannon, Alys Crocker
A Country Music Christmas – Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. ET
Songwriter Brooke has the decision of a lifetime to make when a charming executive makes promises of fortune and glory that require leaving her best friend and writing partner behind.
Starring: Alexandra Harris, Jonathan Stoddard
North by North Pole: A Dial S Mystery – Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. ET
Santa is back to help a new couple solve a mystery and find romance. Zoey has one Christmas wish...to produce the perfect Christmas Festival for her hometown of Willow Creek. That wish becomes more difficult when Dalton, the sponsor’s handsome but aggravating son, becomes her partner and his modern ideas clash with Zoey’s more traditional vision. However, when suspicious things start happening, they realize someone is trying to stop the festival. They must team up to save it and soon find that they have a lot more in common than they thought.
Stars: Abby Ross, Joey Scarpellino, Andrea Reindel
Gaither Vocal Band: New Star Shining – Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. ET (will premiere first on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. ET)
Celebrate the beauty and promise of the Savior’s birth with this new Christmas show from the legendary Gaither Vocal Band. Hosted by Bill and Gloria Gaither, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame quintet lends its heartfelt, award-winning harmonies to signature performances of original songs and nostalgic favorites including “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Tennessee Christmas” and more, delivering the eternal hope of this timeless story not only for the season, but also in our hearts every day of the year.
# # #
About UP Entertainment
UP Entertainment, celebrating its 20th anniversary this October, is the destination for uplifting entertainment for passionate and diverse audiences across the leading cable, satellite and streaming platforms. Brands include UP Faith & Family, UPtv, aspireTV, aspireTV+, GaitherTV+ and Cine Romántico. UP Faith & Family is the leading subscription streaming service in uplifting entertainment. UPtv is the trusted network for adults seeking positive programming with relatable stories about relationships, filled with love and laughter, through exclusive premiere movies, box-office hit films and beloved series. AspireTV is the television network that celebrates and reflects Black culture, life and style in a way that is inspiring, authentic and entertaining. AspireTV+ is a new subscription streaming service for Black culture and urban lifestyle entertainment. GaitherTV+ provides access to Gaither’s renowned and growing library of full-length award-winning Country, Gospel, Bluegrass and Christian concerts and specials, early premieres of new performances and shows, and exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews. UP Entertainment in partnership with PixL Dos, also manages and distributes Cine Romántico, a FAST channel featuring the best of Hollywood TV romance movies in Spanish. Additionally, UP Entertainment also represents partner brands Ovation TV and its AVOD and FAST services including Journy. Ovation is an independent television, production, and digital media company, with an unparalleled commitment to the arts, culture and entertainment. Journy is Ovation’s free ad-supported video on demand channel focused on travel and entertainment. UP Entertainment’s award-winning pro-social initiative, “UPlift Someone,” has inspired over 200 million people to uplift others through its social videos.
------------ End of Press Release ------------
UPtv has a mix of Christmas movies premiering on their network this year!
Some of you may be familiar with some of the titles that have been available to watch on various streaming sources, like Christmas in Rockwell and Country Roads Christmas. Plus, at least four of the films above that are new to UPtv have previously aired on the ION network.
The two Christmas movies I'm most looking forward to seeing are A Bluegrass Christmas, which includes actor, Shaun Johnston (best known as Grandpa Jack on Heartland) and A Novel Christmas, which stars Brigitte Kingsley, Landy Cannon, and Alys Crocker.
Please share your thoughts on these Christmas movies in comments below.
Have a Merry Day!
Net
Lovely to see UP releasing this so early!
ReplyDeleteI happily reviewed some of those Reel One and ION movies last year. (you can find them in last year and the 2022 Christmas movie review's page).
So happy to see Brigitte's new movie ended up here!
-Maria
Maria, When I set up the new *Movie Review Post* for the 2024 Christmas movie season, I will be sure to go back and include all the previously submitted movie reviews for these Christmas movies airing on UPtv this year.
DeleteThank you for all of your reviews - past and present! :)
I watched The Case of the Christmas Diamond,
ReplyDeleteDognapped: Hound for the Holidays,
& The Search for Secret Santa on ION
There’s contest at the end of the the movie about those 2 ladies mention about gay princes from the country & including that ladies
Thank you so much or this reminder!
DeleteWow, that's a lot more than I thought they would have. Some sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteMisty
Going through the list, some seem to be old movies.
ReplyDeleteMisty
Well now, this is interesting.
ReplyDeleteStrangely enough I almost posted yesterday that I was wondering where UP would go to this Christmas and then this appears.
At best only four of these are new.
Of the oldies there's nothing outstandingalthough they're fine for a one time watch but it will be interesting to see what anyone makes of A Very English Christmas - imo it's one of the worst movies ever made a real "stinker".
Nothing comes to mind as "unfriendly" but I wouldn't swear to it.
Festival Of Trees and A Bluegrass Christmas are definitely new but I can't find anything out about A Novel Christmas nor North-by-Northpole A Dial S Mystery.
Nothing with those titles coming up on IMDB and there's nothing listed even as upcoming in the lead actors' resumes.
Country Roads Christmas might be worth another watch.
Things don't look good on the Rom.Com horizon the only Channels regularly producing them now are GAF and Hallmark.
Nicely has now started filming thrillers and it looks as if Reel One may have pulled out of this area of the market - no Rom.Coms this year and I can't find out the position.
I wrote to them but did not receive a response
For me this is a disaster.
I got an email yesterday from UP and they're having to dig deep for new movies - they're showing two new Faith movies but they're from years back - Florence
Great observations and so true! I wonder why there is such a problem filming new content.
DeleteMisty
Florence, I also miss the new movie premieres Sunday nights on UPtv. I am glad they are bringing back Christmas to their network with some new movies.
DeleteWith how bad the economy is these days with everything so expensive, I'm wondering if that's why they had to cut back on purchasing and creating new films.
By the way, both "A Novel Christmas" and "North-by-Northpole A Dial S Mystery" are new this year.
Even though many of these have aired elsewhere, they are still new to me, so I’m happy! UP usually gives us 2 or 3 really enjoyable (non cookie cutter like Hallmarks) holiday movies every year. Christie
ReplyDeleteChristie, Same with me! I've been wanting to see a couple of these movies that have been available on streaming, but I just didn't pay the extra, and now I'm looking forward to catching them this Christmas on UPtv! :)
DeleteAs a ‘Heartland’ fan, I’m glad and surprised to see ‘A Bluegrass Christmas’ made the UPtv lineup this year. I thought I would have to pay extra to see it this Christmas. It’s a nice get for this channel!
ReplyDeleteAnon, I thought the same thing! It's so nice we won't have to pay extra to see this! And, I'm thrilled that Jack (Grandpa) from Heartland is in this! :)
DeleteDecent offerings again this year from UPtv. More or less, it’s what I expected.
ReplyDeleteMovies on my watch list:
Country Roads Christmas
A Bluegrass Christmas
North by North Pole: A Dial S Mystery
Novel Christmas
Allie B, I like your watch list, too! :)
DeleteThose 4 Christmas movies were on ION
ReplyDeleteThe Case of the Christmas Diamond
Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays
The Search for Secret Santa
A Prince and Pauper Christmas
The Case of the Christmas Diamond isn't family friendly. Andy talks to Amelia that Amelia is really a book author. She suggests Amelia; “The Case of the Christmas Diamond” under her own pen name. Harper & Bridgette mentions about gay princes of Astoria. The gay princes weren’t in the movie & they’re in the country.
Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays, The Search for Secret Santa, & A Prince and Pauper Christmas are clean
Thank you for sharing a review for the movie, "The Case of the Christmas Diamond." I appreciate this reminder.
DeleteI attempted to watch the mystery ones, “Dognapped & Case of the Christmas Diamond” and guys, they were so bad. I couldn’t even get through 20 minutes.
ReplyDelete~Paula
If anyone is interested, a few of these movies have already been reviewed by some of us when they were on streaming platforms. You can find the various full reviews on Net’s “Christmas Movie Reviews” pages from both 2022 and 2023. I’m wondering if UPtv will be editing some of the movies that were not entirely wholesome? Below are brief versions of my original thoughts.
ReplyDelete**Country Roads Christmas (2022 FoxNation Streaming) Nice music. Good for one-time watch.
**Christmas in Rockwell (2022 FoxNation Streaming) Part cute, part meh. Okay for one-time watch.
**The Search for Secret Santa (2022 Ion) Not family friendly and doubtful they could edit out all the various offensive parts.
**Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays (2022 Ion) I stopped watching after dialogue that was not family friendly, so have no idea if that was the only part that needs to be edited out to make it clean.
**A Prince and Pauper Christmas (2022 Ion) Did not watch.
**The Case of the Christmas Diamond (2022 Ion) Did not watch.
**A Very English Christmas (2023 XumoPlay on Roku) Ugh! Just too horrible for words!
**12 Dares of Christmas (2023 XumoPlay on Roku) Double meh! And not entirely wholesome.
I’m looking forward to the following new movies and hoping for the best!
A Bluegrass Christmas (2024); Festival of Trees (2024); A Novel Christmas (2024); North by Northpole: A Dial S Mystery (2024) (Last year’s Dial S for Santa is still on my dvr and I need to watch it. However, it looks like a completely different set of writers and directors?)
~~ Jane
Jane, Thank you so much for taking the time to add these review snippets. That is so very thoughtful of you!!!
DeleteAs I mentioned to Maria in the first comment above, when I set up the new *Movie Review Post* for the 2024 Christmas movie season, I will be sure to go back and include all the previously submitted movie reviews for these Christmas movies airing on UPtv this year.
I'm so grateful for you & your helpful reviews! :)
Net, it must be exhausting trying to keep everything straight, especially now with all this streaming stuff -- you're amazing!!! Thank you for all your hard work in giving us all a place to come and share our thoughts. ~~Jane
DeleteGlad we agree on A Very English Christmas, Jane - a complete waste of time and ne of the worst movies ever and I'm more or lees in agreement with your thoughts on the others - Florence
Deletelooks like there are some winners in the bunch
ReplyDeleteET shared a sneak peak of Festival of Trees:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.etonline.com/media/videos/festival-of-trees-trailer-sneak-peek-at-uptvs-first-holiday-movie-of-the-season
-Maria
Net
ReplyDeleteAs far as I can see these movies are missing from your Upcoming TV Movies Schedule:
16 Nov Dognapped: Hound For The Holidays
17 Nov A Very English Christmas
23 Nov The Search For Secret Santa
Florence
Florence, Wow!!! You are very observant!
DeleteI previously had those Christmas movies scheduled there, but after going through previous movie reviews, I removed all three just yesterday since those movies are not family-friendly.
Those movies are still listed here:
https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2009/09/christmas-new-tv-movies.html
A Country Music Christmas has been added to the schedule, December 21. -Maria
ReplyDeleteGreat news - UP had added a BRAD NEW Christmas movie to its schedule:
ReplyDeleteA Country Music Christmas starring Jonathan Stoddard (a fav of mine) and Alexandra Harris
Songwriter Brooke has the decision of a lifetime to make when a charming executive makes promises of fortune and glory that require leaving her best friend and writing partner behind.
It will premiere on Saturday Dec 21 - Florence
Maria & Florence,
ReplyDeleteSo sweet of you both to share! UPtv emailed me the news this morning.
You've probably both seen it, but I posted the news on the new Christmas movie, for anyone else interested, here:
https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2024/11/uptv-announces-additional-christmas-movie-2024-a-country-music-christmas.html
It's great to see they added this Nicely Entertainment movie to their lineup. Gives me even more hope for their movie offerings in 2025!!! :) :)
It is indeed great news that UPtv has added a Nicely Christmas movie to their schedule because as you say, Net, it does give some hope for their 2025 offerings.
ReplyDeleteThe Rom.Com market doesn't look good.
At this late stage there are still 10 or so Christmas movies with no home some of them from Nicely who along with Candlelight have a number of non-holiday themed movies available.
For quite a while UP were featuring NO new movies.
The market has shrunk considerably and you're maybe looking at only Hallmark who of course mostly use their own movies and GAF to air these on TV.
The big question is whether GAF will continue to promote new movies come the New Year or revert to a scdule similar to last year?
Alas Xumo has pulled back from sceduling any new Christmas movies as they have done the last 2 years although thay are still continuing to show these and has not come through with many new Rom.Coms recently.
I think Reel One Entertainment must have known this which is why they cut back drastically on their Christmas output, also Lifetime is no longer much of a source for them.
It's both interesting and frightening to see what January will bring - Florence
Country Roads Christmas was very good! -Maria
ReplyDeleteChristmas in Rockwell is amazing! -Maria
ReplyDeleteDespite what the bad reviews say, A Very English Christmas is quite charming. -Maria
ReplyDeleteA Bluegrass Christmas. And, finally(!), we get a true rendition of “Go Tell it on the Mountain” - yay! (As opposed to the Believe in Christmas movie where they changed the lyrics.) This movie is predictable and cheesy and considerably melodramatic. The grandfather, as well as his granddaughter, were at times self-centered and prickly and irrational. Did I mention the melodrama?!? And yet. . . I rather liked it! Especially the horses and the beautiful snowy farm scenery and the music!! I love bluegrass and country music, and the music was quite enjoyable! The angel tree-topper was playing a guitar – how precious! You knew exactly where this movie was going and that everyone would have a miraculous change of heart and all live sappily ever after, but it was still a sweet movie. The acting wasn’t phenomenal and the romance was backseat to the rest of the storyline, but it was good enough to make for an enjoyable night’s entertainment. And they got the “Go Tell it on the Mountain” lyrics correct and kept Jesus in the song!! (No Hallmark rewrites here.) This isn’t a faith-based movie, but they did get the song right. Perchance, the best scene in the movie is where the song is sung in a peaceful, snowy landscape. Family friendly and nice for a quiet evening’s watch. ~~Jane (aka Giddy Up, Jingle Horse)
ReplyDeleteFestival of Trees. This movie was unique and I loved it!! It blew my low expectations out of the slush puddle. It was odd and awkward and real and warm and funny and inspiring and organic and seriously quirky good! All the actors were pitch perfect in their differing roles and the writing and directing were excellent. The romantic chemistry between the main couple was just right and felt natural. The adorable daughter of the lead character was both precious and precocious. I haven’t watched a lot of movies yet but, so far, this is the most delightful, funny, feel-good, heartwarming one I’ve watched this season. It didn’t have a big budget and it won’t win any awards, but it just felt good and like a breath of fresh air in a sea of cookie-cutter Christmas movies. A definite keeper, for me. Family friendly. ~~Jane (aka Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree)
ReplyDeleteCouldn't make it through Festival of Trees
ReplyDelete-
Bluegrass Christmas was quite charming.
-Maria
A Novel Christmas. I think it’s possible this movie put me in an eggnog coma. So, if you’re looking for a sweet movie guaranteed to give you a sugar hangover, this is the one for you! It’s warm and cozy and sweet and slow and mellow, with a dash of hokey and ridiculous thrown in. Lots of nice faith elements (although I question the warm, fuzzy “angel” theology pertaining to deceased relatives plus some of the other muddied views about following your heart which aren’t really in line with the Bible); but overall, it was nice to have a focus on prayer and church attendance, and loving families. The characters/actors all seemed to have a quiet, congenial, lethargic-esque style and when added to the syrupy sweet story, you might just come away with an eggnog coma of your own. . . but it’s a pleasant feeling! 😊 The lead actress was spun-sugar personified and it turns out she wrote the script and her husband directed (it seems they have a string of these sweet, middle-of-the-road movies between them). This one has a warm, Christmassy feel, good for the whole family. A sweet one-time watch for me. ~~Jane (aka Christmas Ribbon Candy)
ReplyDelete