Well there are going to be people who think Christmas TV is 'crap' and this is a forum, for people to talk about it if they want?

It's no different to people posting the same 'crap' day in and day out in the ratings thread, including myself.

Unless you want the forum to only allow discussions on your beliefs?

I disagree with this post. @ Mark didn't say you want the forum to only allow discussions on your beliefs, you think that. Where you say this is a forum, for people to talk about it if they want?, true, Mark never said anything to the contrary. But if someone posts TV is crap, then this is a forum, for people to talk about it and those who " disagree" are " allowed" to disagree without abuse.

You're wrong, actually. Last year was good and I had no idea that this year would be so terrible.

What would YOU put on?

Abuse? So what is your post against what I said then? Oh, wait, double standards!

I do think we need more comedies - Goodnight Sweetheart should have been recomissioned instead of some uppity one on BBC2 and people like a laugh at Christmas. I think all these period nonsense is just dreary (bar CTM) and we're obsessed with the past. If you want the posh stuff, shove it on BBC2 or 4.

No, you have double standards as you posted re bring an open forum, the PP answered freely on their views in a respectful way, and you " jumped" a few lines saying it's an open forum, everyone can post what they want, but it seems if we think these Christmas TV crap thread(s) are predictable then we are censored from saying it.

Today we have Netflix, Amazon Prime, catch up/on demandTV, Sky/Virgin TV, DVDs, Boxsets, online entertainment etc etc.

We are spoilt for choice really and yet some people still complain about there being nothing festive to watch.

Watching Christmas specials from shows on Netflix is exactly what we did on Christmas Day evening.

A Very Murray Christmas on Netflix is worth watching this time of the year.

But I agree, the way we're watching TV is changing, we're not stuck to the broadcaster time schedules any more.

The thing about Christmas TV is that it's becoming less & less important.
30+ years ago there was not much else to do on the 25th/26th but to spend the day at home with the family watching the one big TV in the house. The shows that were produced were aimed at family viewing. Things like the Morcambe & Wise show were perfect to keep parents, grandparents & children all amused while the new board games & toys were played, the new Lego kits built or dolls houses built.
Now the toys are interactive and quite often solo activities. The latest game is played on the kids TVs in the bedrooms or the newest device is handheld and used with headphones. Those that are watching TV are just as likely to watching the back-catalog of stuff they've recorded in the run-up to Christmas that they didn't have time to watch, are on the linear subscription stations watching the latest blockbuster movies or using Amazon/Netflix to play the films that they want to watch rather than 2-3 year old ones that make it to Freeview/Freesat.
The commercial broadcasters still have to justify what they show and know that soaps draw in the audiences as to the tired old tried & tested films that they buy for peanuts and flogs adverts in.
making and broadcasting shows that the whole family want to watch is very difficult now and probably not economic to do for Christmas day when everyone's schedules are far less predictable that every other day of the year.

Yeah but kids are half the time not remotely into watching tv at Christmas as they have got all their new presents, Put on some for the kids sure but not every channel which it seems these days, it never used to be as widespread.

Well said, I think try and give a bit of everything, fair enough people like the old fashioned stuff but give us some decent comedy and a gripping drama that is set in the present day too and a few more films making their tv premiere.

My schedule from a rival thread -

Ok, say you move Dr Who to Boxing Day.
On Xmas Day -
Post cartoon film a Charlie Higson adaptation of Norman Hunter's Incrediblania stories.

A male and female fronted variety show where the hosts get involved with the acts - she becomes a magician's assistant, he sings a duet etc.

A lighthearted period crime drama by someone like Anthony Horowiitz.

A 75/90 minute one off comedy by a household name writer.

A sketch show after the news.

From this comment, I assume you mean that you don't like soaps and therefore xmas day episodes shouldn't be part of the schedule. What I was saying is that for as long as I can remember, and that is quite a long time, soaps have always been on on xmas day. When I was young, it was just Corrie, but then Eastenders started and an xmas day ep has featured every year. People love soaps and they get big viewing figures so xmas day eps are justified.
I don't like strictly and Bake off, bit I can see why they put them on. I do enjoy Dr. Who, but not keen on Capaldi. This is another big ratings show that you expect to be on, but the rest of the festive offerings were not good. Also, as a note for the planners, NOT EVERYONE LIKES HARRY POTTER.

And my, truncated, response from "a rival thread": why?

Well I'm mainly aiming it at the people who didn't like what WAS on.

And at the same time alienating the people who did like what was on.

Why is it so difficult to understand that the BBC One schedule after the main family film consists of specials of already popular programmes?

You'll never please everyone. It's impossible. So you aim to please as many as possible, which is what the BBC does.

£5.60 plus your Virgin subscription.

Can somebody APART from Mark comment on my schedule?

Maybe nobody else has anything to add over and above, or even contrary to, what I've said.

Sure!

What Mark said!

And I've merely promoted similar concepts to what has been on in recent years to BBC One Christmas Day itself.

Norman Hunter - they did two Professor Branestawms.
Variety -Michael McIntyre was on Christmas Eve.
Light crime - there was a version of "The Ruby In The Smoke".
New comedy - Russell Howard did a play on BBC 2 last year.

Interesting use of the word recent! Ruby In The Smoke was ten years ago and was shown on December 27th.

Russell Howard's piece was repeated this year (which reminds me I still haven't watched it!), Michael McIntyre was on Christmas Eve this year again this year. The two Branestawm films were shown on Christmas Eve. I thought this was about Christmas Day?

Instead of listing all the shows that you don't like (that other people clearly do and tend to achieve good ratings) maybe it would be more constructive to list what you would like to see?