Rankin/Bass-historian: 10/27/24

Friday, November 01, 2024

Rankin/Bass Productions specials move from CBS to NBC

This year, Rankin/Bass Productions' Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman are moving to NBC-TV. This is Rudolph's 60th Anniversary and it originally aired on NBC until 1972 (See my NEW book for NBC Puppet display case 1964-1971). Rudolph will air December 6th, 2024 at 7 pm Central in a 75 minute time slot. I am not sure how I feel about this. I can't really go into it, but I don't have a lot of confidence in these companies. Yesterday, I heard from a Producer at CBS Saturday morning, that wants to do a Rankin/Bass segment. Frosty the Snowman has been on CBS, since it premiered in 1969. It is strange for it to be moved to NBC, after all of this time and holding the record for the longest-running special on the same network. Frosty will air on NBC December 5th at 7:30 PM Central time. I can say this, I haven't liked the prints of Rudolph and Frosty that have been airing on CBS, with their bad editing, etc. ABC-TV will air the heavily edited version of Santa Claus Is Comin' to town December 3rd at 8 pm Central time.