How Premium Movie Channels Killed Christmas

It's that time of year again when one wonders what happened to the summer and what will one give one's loved ones for Christmas.

Not that I look forward to Christmas. Anymore. As much.

It's not that I'm older, wiser, more cynical or non believing ( I didn't write The World's Shortest Nativity Play - ' There is No God').

It's not that the child has left me ( I still love The Polar Express).

It's that technology - oooh the big baddie - has taken away a little of the anticipation.

Growing up - you couldn't wait to get the three Christmas editions of the RTE Guide, TV Times and Radio Times (that was a good scam- having to buy the three to get the full listings) - to see wait great movies would be on over Christmas .

Of course, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was there, along with Willie Wonka and sometimes the Wizard of Oz (though I more think of the latter as an Easter movie for some reason) - but would there be a new James Bond movie? What film from the cinema would be the highlight on Christmas Day? What movie was being screened on St. Stephen's Day?

A little red pen and some strategic long range planning came into play( - think of what that taught our children- as opposed to the 'I want it now generation').

To quote Buzz Lightyear - it's gone, ALL GONE!

Thanks to EPG and SKY MOVIES.

Sure you could video tape movies and watch them all over again, hey you could even rent movies (on demand - so what's so different) from Xtravision, but getting the family to sit down together and watch the same programme, full of cranberry sauce and fruitcake has a certain je ne sais quoi.

No it's not lamenting times past or even old age, it's simply excitement with being sociable.

Christmas is still the biggest social event - where nearly everyone is on holiday at the same time.
It's a time to enjoy and anticipate.

Being able to watch Avatar at any time of the day or night on movie channel 1,2 or 16 in full HD and pause/rewind is great and all, but I'm sorry technology does have its downsides; and taking away some element of excitement and not knowing is one of them.

Of course, Christmas ain't all about movies and pressies - we all know that - it's about giving, celebration and looking forward to.

So back to the start - giving. So I'm going to give the old Christmas a great whizz bang this year - the sales of the Guide, TV Times and Radio Times and going to increase this Christmas!