Totally agree.
I think of the reasons I've really gone off Christmas is not bc I'm just much older now and don't have to wait to get a great haul of toys (!) - but that growing up in the 70s and 80's - that "big Xmas TV" really was a big part of Xmas for me and my family.
It would start around September. Going back to School. Someone would come in with a page from a newspaper saying "Look! Ghostbusters is going to be on TV at Xmas!" (please insert name of your favourite Eighties movie there)
That would cause near mass hysteria in the school playground with everyone suddenly wishing December was here. And how we were all going to be "taping it" so we could watch it whenever we wanted!
Then there would be the ritual of the "double edition" of the TV Times and Radio Times. Both super thick special Christmas editions. Oh the excitement of looking ahead at all the big movies that were going to be shown - and then all the Christmas Specials of game shows and quiz shows...
In our family we'd each have a different coloured felt tip with which to mark up the Radio Times and TV Times. There would be careful planning and the use of two video recorders to maximise hoarding and time shifting.
Literally our lives and meal times would revolve around what was on which channel and when.
"Well, we'll record "ET" on Beeb One whilst we watch BBC Two and then record that old film on Channel Four upstairs" - then it's a James Bond film on.
By the time the Day arrived there would have been an epic build up. And there would be a decent movie on for Xmas Eve. We'd be sat with the lights off with the room lit by the Woolworth lights on our Woolworths tree.
I'd be up early for a present or two but be torn between wanting to read the book I'd been given or new computer game to play with watching TV. Often we'd fit a film in before lunch so as to "clear some space because we need the tape" as well.
I will admit that I was totally excited to see the Xmas edition of "Telly Addicts" on BBC One bc the head of Channel Four Michael Grade was going to be on. The line up of said show was actually discussed at School two months before with everyone agreeing that "well he will definitely win and beat the Paine family bc well, he runs a television channel.."
It was all about the big films for us, as well as a few classics. In our house we could never understand why they would always show "Morecambe and Wise" from '77 bc we didn't like them and didn't know anyone who did.
(Spoiler - they actually showed this on Beeb Two on Xmas Day just gone!)
In recent years with more channels we felt it wasnt as good bc they must have thought everyone was out at other peoples houses so they didn't put much effort in.
Theres a lot more channels now and you can watch films all the time so it's all moved on. But back then - Xmas TV was a big highlight of the year for me and my family. It really really was....