What Made the 2017 CBS Holiday Schedule Unique
CBS Christmas specials in 2017 reflected a mix of established holiday traditions and measured experiments in scheduling, anchored by dependable family events alongside newer, more limited entries. The network balanced broad-audience specials with targeted holiday programming, seeking to retain viewers during a season when streaming and on-demand viewing began to reshape appointment viewing. This overview explains the notable programs, their original air dates, and practical ways to watch or record them, focusing on evergreen details that remain useful whether you are revisiting the season or catching up for research.
Core Programming Blocks and Air Dates
CBS scheduled its holiday programming across multiple weeks in December, with marquee events clustered in the second and third weeks. Rather than a single "Christmas night" special, the network presented a lineup spanning primetime variety, family-friendly storytelling, and event programming tied to annual franchises. Below is a compact table of key entries, their verified details, and why the timing mattered for audience reach.
| Title | Air Date (2017) | Type / Format | Note for Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Great American Christmas | Dec 18 | Variety special | Featured music, performances, and holiday segments |
| The Talk: Christmas Week Specials | Dec 18–22 | Talk show event | Special episodes filmed in New York |
| The Price Is Right at Christmas | Dec 25 | Game show special | Regular pricing games with holiday contestants and prizes |
| Christmas on the Square (Read-Along) | Dec 25 | Animated/live-action hybrid | Aired as a CBS All Access exclusive in some regions |
| The Waltons: Homecoming | Dec 17 | Holiday movie event | Set between Seasons 6 and 7 of the original series |
How Viewers Could Watch and Record
In 2017, CBS offered several paths to catch its Christmas specials, whether through live broadcast, same-day streaming, or on-demand options. Viewers with over-the-air antennas could receive the main network signal in most markets, while cable and satellite subscribers accessed the network through standard tiers. Digital multicast services and local CBS affiliates sometimes carried alternate holiday blocks that complemented the national schedule. Because scheduling could vary by affiliate and DMA, checking local listings remained a reliable practice for precise times.
CBS All Access and Streaming Options
CBS All Access provided a central streaming destination for many holiday productions, including exclusive or first-run content tied to Christmas themes. While select specials aired live on the main network, CBS All Access streams allowed viewers to watch on phones, tablets, and connected TVs, with some timed windows aligned with broadcast. Certain animated or family-oriented entries appeared on the platform shortly after their linear premiere. The service also offered on-demand access to prior specials and related episodes from holiday-themed series when available.
Notable Specials and Franchise Entries
The 2017 lineup leaned on established franchises and tried a few new angles to refresh holiday viewing. Special events like The Waltons: Homecoming aimed to evoke nostalgia while functioning as a self-contained story for audiences familiar and unfamiliar with the original run. Game show and variety entries such as The Price Is Right at Christmas and The Great American Christmas leaned into familiar formats with holiday contexts that required no prior knowledge. Collectively, these programs highlighted how legacy formats can carry seasonal branding without reinventing their core structures.
Programming by Category
- Event movies: The Waltons: Homecoming
- Variety and music: The Great American Christmas
- Game show specials: The Price Is Right at Christmas
- Family animation/live-action: Christmas on the Square
- Talk show event: The Talk Christmas Week Specials
Behind the Scheduling Choices
CBS positioned holiday specials as steady counterprogramming to heavier drama or comedy schedules elsewhere, aiming for family co-viewing and broad household reach. Nighttime airings around 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET aligned with peak viewing windows, while earlier matinee-style slots catered to younger audiences and flexible viewing habits. Lead-outs and local news blocks helped retain viewers after each special, underlining the importance of scheduling context beyond the program itself. Ratings for these entries often reflected both content appeal and ease of access on a given night.
Tips for Catching or Preserving the Specials
Because some holiday productions aired only once or had limited repeat windows, practical viewing strategies helped reduce missed opportunities. Digital video recorders, cable on-demand libraries, and platform-specific features like CBS All Access cloud storage made it easier to watch on personal schedules. For viewers who preferred physical media, noting which specials were released to home video or digital purchase platforms provided another path. The suggestions below summarize reliable ways to watch and retain access to CBS Christmas specials from 2017.
- Check local CBS affiliate listings for exact air times in your DMA.
- Use CBS All Access where available for live streams and on-demand episodes.
- Enable cloud DVR storage through your provider or platform when possible.
- Look for digital or physical releases if you want to own select holiday programs.
- Set reminders near holiday weeks to avoid conflicts with other programming.
Summary and Practical Takeaway
CBS Christmas specials in 2017 combined trusted formats with measured streaming integration, aiming to serve both linear and connected viewing habits. By anchoring the schedule with recognizable franchises and dependable event programming, the network offered audiences multiple ways to engage with holiday content. Understanding the lineup, air dates, and where to watch supports both retrospective research and practical viewing planning, making this overview useful beyond a single season.
Related Topics to Explore
- How to find local affiliate air times in any TV market
- Best practices for recording and preserving holiday broadcasts
- Comparing network holiday lineups across platforms
- Legacy family franchises on broadcast TV during the 2010s
- The role of streaming services in extending holiday programming reach
FAQ
Reader questions
Were all CBS Christmas specials in 2017 available on streaming?
Not every special aired on CBS All Access, but many key entries were accessible either live or on-demand through the platform. Availability could differ by region due to licensing and technical restrictions, so checking local and platform-specific guides was recommended.
Did any 2017 holiday specials lead to new series or recurring programming?
The 2017 schedule emphasized standalone holiday events and franchise continuations rather than launching new series. Programs like The Waltons: Homecoming reinforced existing IP, while variety and game show entries maintained familiar formats with seasonal branding.
How can I find exact times for my local CBS affiliate in 2024 when looking back at 2017 schedules?
CBS affiliate sites and TV listings archives typically retain historical scheduling data. Platforms that host past broadcast information can help you verify original air dates and any variances by market.
Were there any primetime holiday specials that competed with other networks in 2017?
Yes, many of the marquee holiday events on CBS aired against specials on other major networks, especially in the 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. window on key evenings. This competition reinforced the importance of scheduling and promotional pushes to retain audience share.
Are these formats still used by CBS for holiday programming today?
Many of the same approaches, including marquee events, franchise-based storytelling, and multiplatform streaming, remain central to CBS holiday scheduling. Specific titles and frequencies may shift, but the underlying strategy of reliable, broadly accessible holiday events continues.