Sky & Virgin Media viewers receive shock free channel on their TVs TODAY – but people are divided saying it’s ‘too soon’

A NEW channel has appeared on TV screens today that’s sure to leave viewers divided.

The annual Christmas channel has returned to Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview.

Narrative Entertainment

The channel’s relaunch was teased last month[/caption]

And it’s back earlier than ever – a whole 111 days before the big day – leaving people divided.

GREAT! Xmas shows nothing but back-to-back festive movies all the way through to January 8.

Last year, the Christmas-themed pop-up channel came to air on September 7 but this year it returns even sooner.

Viewers have already taken to social media saying the station’s relaunch is “too soon”.

“Hold on we haven’t passed Halloween yet for Christmas,” one user wrote on X.

But others were more welcoming of the channel’s reappearance, saying: “I don’t mind, I can watch Christmas films anytime of year, I don’t see why people think they should only be watched at Christmas.

“Of course though, the obvious answer is if you think it’s too early don’t watch, simples!”

GREAT! Xmas temporarily replaces GREAT! Romance on the TV guide.

Sky subscribers on satellite can find it on channel 319, while Sky Glass and Sky Stream users will need to go to 317.

On Virgin Media the channel number is 424.

And on Freeview it’s 52, or 47 for those with the new Freely service.

GREAT! Xmas is largely filled with budget direct-to-TV movies.

The channel launched with cheesy rom-com Rocky Mountain Christmas on Thursday morning.

Other titles include:

• A Joyous Christmas
• Christmas Next Door
• Love You Like Christmas
• A Candlelit Christmas
• Miss Christmas
• The Mistletoe Promise
• The Christmas Cure
• Highway To Heaven
• The Christmas Bunny

It’s also worth noting that the hour time-shift channel G! romance+1 has been changed to reflect the channel’s arrival too, renaming to GREAT! xmas+1.