The Christmas Channel facts for kids
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| Type | Seasonal Radio network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Availability | National |
| Owner | Cumulus Media Networks (through Cumulus Media) |
| Launch date | November 26, 1998 as seasonal programming block. November 23, 2006 as separate channel. |
The Christmas Channel was a special American radio network. It played lots of traditional and popular Christmas music. This channel broadcasted to 35 different radio stations all over the United States. It was owned by Cumulus Media Networks. The channel was only active for a short time each year. It started the day before Thanksgiving Day and played music until Christmas Day.
History of The Christmas Channel
The Christmas Channel began in 1998. It started as a special holiday program. This program was part of ABC Radio's Unforgettable Favorites satellite radio format. At that time, The Walt Disney Company owned ABC Radio.
Each year, the channel would switch to Christmas music on Thanksgiving Day. It would then switch back to regular music the day after Christmas Day. In 2006, Unforgettable Favorites joined with another format called Timeless Classics. After this, The Christmas Channel became its own separate radio network.
In 2007, this network and other ABC Radio formats moved to Citadel Broadcasting. Citadel Broadcasting later merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011. For the 2010 holiday season, Citadel decided to air The Christmas Channel in place of its Classic Hits format.
The separate Christmas Channel network returned in 2011. That year, it started broadcasting earlier, on November 1. This was to help stations that wanted to play Christmas music sooner. Cumulus Media Networks was the only major company offering this kind of seasonal music channel. Its competitors did not have a similar service.
Later, Cumulus Media Networks merged with another company called Westwood One. After this merger, The Christmas Channel was stopped.
Popular Christmas Songs Played
Here are some of the songs that The Christmas Channel would play:
- "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" - Bing Crosby
- "Sleigh Ride" - Boston Pops Orchestra
- "Christmastime Is Here (Vocal Version)" - Vince Guaraldi
- "Wonderful Christmastime" - Paul McCartney
- "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
- "O Come All Ye Faithful" - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
- "Merry Christmas Darling" - The Carpenters
- "What Child Is This" - Kenny G
- "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree" - Brenda Lee
- "Feliz Navidad" - José Feliciano
- "O Holy Night" - Josh Groban
- "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Gene Autry
- "The Christmas Song" - Nat King Cole
- "Santa Baby" - Eartha Kitt
Radio Stations That Carried The Channel
Here is a partial list of radio stations that played The Christmas Channel:
- Chicago, Illinois - WLS-AM
- Detroit, Michigan - WJR-AM
- New York City - WABC-AM
- Oak Ridge, Tennessee - WCYQ
- San Francisco, California - KSFO-AM
This information is from December 6, 2007.
