If you love classic Christmas specials and eagerly wait each year to revisit iconic holiday favorites, 2024 has been a disappointing year for CBS viewers. The network, owned by Paramount, has made significant changes to its holiday lineup by giving up the rights to some beloved Christmas specials, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and the quirky Robbie the Reindeer specials. These changes mean that CBS viewers will have to find new ways to enjoy these classic holiday stories this year.
The decision to remove Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Frosty specials from CBS’ holiday lineup seems to be part of a broader trend of shifting rights among networks. CBS has now stopped airing the two Robbie the Reindeer specials that have become quirky staples of its holiday programming in recent years. These specials include Hooves of Fire (1999) and Legend of the Lost Tribe (2002), both of which have delighted audiences over the past two decades with their offbeat storytelling and humor. These stop-motion specials follow Robbie, the son of Rudolph, as he attempts to earn a spot on Santa’s sleigh team. Legend of the Lost Tribe, in particular, features Robbie’s encounters with a group of Vikings, adding a unique twist to his journey.