Family channel celebrates Twistmas, a fun-filled festive line-up

    
                        Special programming includes:
           Canadian Premiere of Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation
                   Marathons of favourite series and movies
                         Holiday movies and episodes
    

TORONTO, Dec. 15 /CNW/ - Astral Media's Family Channel serves up festive fare for the whole family all month long with Twistmas. This merry programming line-up includes the premiere of the music-filled holiday special Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation, marathons of viewers' favourite series and an assortment of holiday episodes and classic festive movies.

In the animated special Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation, it's Christmas Eve and an excited Phineas and Ferb are working to turn the city of Danville into a giant shimmering thank-you card to Santa. Meanwhile, Dr. Doofenshmirtz develops a Naughty-inator, and suddenly the Tri-state area is clouded in naughtiness and kids' letters to Santa are returned unanswered. Two of Santa's British elves arrive to investigate and Phineas and Ferb quickly devise a way to spread holiday cheer. Multi Platinum-selling Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the series stars perform original holiday songs. Guest stars include Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption), Jane Carr (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange), Mathew Horne (Gavin & Stacey) and Bruce MacKinnon (The Catherine Tate Show). Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation airs Friday, December 25 at 12:30 p.m. ET/PT and 5 p.m. ET/PT and is available on Family OnDemand.

From Boxing Day until the New Year, Family invites families to cozy up with special Twistmas marathons. Every day from Saturday, December 26 to Sunday, January 3, Family presents 12 back-to-back episodes of viewer favourite series - including Disney Channel original series Hannah Montana, JONAS, The Suite Life on Deck and Sonny With A Chance, as well as the Family Channel original series Overruled!. Each marathon will be capped off by a movie including the Canadian Premiere of the What's What version of Princess Protection Program. (Marathon details below).

Throughout the merry marathons, Family will sprinkle special short episodes including Zeke and Luther Dude Feud and Mackenzie Falls featuring the stars of Sonny With A Chance. On December 31, Family will countdown to the New Year with Disney Channel's Star Showdown. Viewers can watch their favourite Disney Channel stars compete to see who will be the last star standing.

Holiday cheer-filled films will air Fridays, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, Saturdays and Sundays at 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET/PT. Films include Jack Frost starring Michael Keaton, Babes in Toyland, The Ultimate Christmas Present and One Magic Christmas. Holiday-themed episodes of favourite series will air throughout December.

    
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                            Marathon beginning at   Movie at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT
                            1:30 p.m. ET/PT
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    Saturday, December 26   Phineas and Ferb        Agent Cody Banks
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    Sunday, December 27     Zeke and Luther         Herbie Fully Loaded
                            (at 2 p.m.)
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    Monday, December 28     Hannah Montana          Hatching Pete
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    Tuesday, December 29    Overruled!              Minutemen
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    Wednesday, December 30  JONAS                   Camp Rock (Rock Along
                                                    Version)
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    Thursday, December 31   The Suite Life on Deck  Wendy Wu: Homecoming
                                                    Warrior
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    Friday, January 1       Sonny With A Chance     Princess Protection
                                                    Program (What's What
                                                    Version)
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    Saturday, January 2     Wizards of Waverly      Dadnapped
                            Place
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    Sunday, January 3       Wizards of Waverly      Skyrunners
                            Place
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Family Channel is a premium, commercial-free network offering the best in family television entertainment in 6 million homes across Canada. Dedicated to celebrating family life and providing a fun experience for all, Family airs a unique mix of series, movies and specials, with a large portion of programming supplied by Disney. Family Channel also offers Family OnDemand in select areas, a Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) service, and Family OnLine, an Internet-based content streaming service available to BellTV subscribers, both of which feature hit Disney movies and series, top-rated Canadian series. Visit us at Family.ca.

Family Channel is an Astral Television Networks. Astral Media is a leading Canadian media company, active in specialty and pay television, radio, outdoor advertising and interactive media. Astral Media's solid and dynamic presence in the country's major markets rests on its commitment to offer a unique combination of high-quality, targeted media for all its audiences. For more information about Astral Media, please visit www.astralmedia.com.

For further information: Scott Campbell at [phone] or [e-mail]; For access to Family Channel's media room, please visit http://tv.astral.com