Vizio WatchFree+ Adds a Free Original Christmas Movie and New Shows: What's New and How to Watch
The short answer: Vizio's free streaming service, WatchFree+, will premiere an original feature-length Christmas movie, Jingle Bells Wedding Bells, starring Rachel Bilson and Scott Foley, this holiday season. It costs nothing to watch. It's built into Vizio TVs and Walmart's onn TVs that run Vizio OS, and Vizio says the movie will stream on the web too. Vizio's WatchFree+ pages say you need a free VIZIO account. As of October 7, 2026, Vizio hasn't announced a premiere date.
What else is new: Vizio, which Walmart owns, announced on October 7 that it's adding more shows this fall from MGM, NBCUniversal, Disney, A&E and A24. The titles include The Good Doctor, Chicago Fire, Law & Order, Property Brothers and Little House on the Prairie. Vizio is also adding more than 40 free channels from online creators like MrBeast and Hot Ones, plus a holiday series, Holiday Chocolate Workshop. All of it is free with ads.
What's coming to WatchFree+
This is what Vizio announced on October 7, 2026, at Advertising Week in New York. Dates are Vizio's own wording, as of October 7, 2026.
| What's new | What it is | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jingle Bells Wedding Bells | Original holiday movie starring Rachel Bilson and Scott Foley, produced by ITV America Nashville and Happy Accidents. GEICO is the presenting sponsor. | "This holiday season" (no date yet) | Free with ads |
| Holiday Chocolate Workshop | Creator-led series following chocolatier Amaury Guichon and his team as they build large holiday showpieces | No date announced | Free with ads |
| More studio shows and movies | Expanded deals with MGM, NBCUniversal, Disney, A&E and A24, including The Good Doctor, Chicago Fire, Law & Order, Property Brothers and Little House on the Prairie | This fall | Free with ads |
| 40+ creator channels | Free channels covering comedy, food, gaming, family, lifestyle, sports and travel, from MrBeast, Celine Dept, Hot Ones, The Royalty Family, Ben Azelart, Ryan Trahan, Nick DiGiovanni, Preston Playz, Rebecca Zamolo, Sam and Colby and Uncle Roger | No date announced | Free with ads |
| The service overall | More than 45,000 movies and shows and more than 400 live and local channels, according to Vizio | Available now | Free with ads |
Vizio's own WatchFree+ product pages still listed "300+" live channels and "30,000+" movies and shows on October 7. The larger counts come from the company's announcement that day.
How to find WatchFree+ on a Vizio TV
Vizio's user manual and support materials give these ways to open it:
- Remote button: press the WatchFree+ button, if your remote has one.
- Inputs list: press Input and choose WatchFree+.
- Home Screen: select the WatchFree+ app in the Apps & Inputs row.
- Side menu: on newer Vizio OS screens, choose "Live TV" or "Free Movies & TV" from the menu on the left.
On your phone: the free VIZIO mobile app streams WatchFree+ live channels. Vizio's FAQ says on-demand titles can't play in the app yet and need a linked TV, so plan to watch the movie on a TV or the web. Vizio hasn't said where its web player for the movie will be.
Account note: Vizio's WatchFree+ pages say both that "a customer account is required" and that no subscription or login is needed. The safest reading is that the service is free, but your TV may ask you to sign in with a free VIZIO account.
How WatchFree+ compares with other Christmas movie options
WatchFree+ is getting one original Christmas movie. The traditional holiday movie channels premiere dozens. Here's how the options compare as of October 7, 2026. DIRECTV channel numbers and packages come from DIRECTV's lineup effective July 29, 2026, which was still DIRECTV's current lineup on October 7.
| Option | What you get | When the holiday movies start | Cost | On DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vizio WatchFree+ | One original movie, Jingle Bells Wedding Bells, plus a holiday chocolate series | "This holiday season" (no date yet) | Free with ads | Not on DIRECTV. It's built into Vizio and onn TVs. |
| Hallmark Channel: Countdown to Christmas | 34 new original movies, with premieres Friday through Sunday, plus Season 3 of Mistletoe Murders | Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET, with premieres through Dec. 20 | Included in DIRECTV packages | Channel 312, ENTERTAINMENT and up |
| Hallmark+ | Streams each new Hallmark Channel premiere the next day, plus Hallmark's library | Starting the day after each premiere | $8.99/mo. + tax as a DIRECTV add-on | Premium add-on |
| Great American Family: Great American Christmas | 18 original Christmas movies and around-the-clock holiday programming | Holiday programming starts Oct. 9, 2026, and the first original premieres Saturday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) | Included in DIRECTV packages | Channel 326, CHOICE and up |
| MyFree DIRECTV | Free rom-com and movie channels, including Great American Romcoms and Movie Favorites by Lifetime (schedules vary) | Varies by channel | Free, with no subscription or credit card | Great American Romcoms 4368, Movie Favorites by Lifetime 4504 |
Hallmark's other networks are on DIRECTV too. Hallmark Mystery is channel 565 (HD only) in select packages, and Hallmark Family is channel 564 in the Movies Extra Pack add-on. See what channel Hallmark is on DIRECTV for details.
Not sure whether your package has Hallmark Channel and Great American Family? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884 and we'll check your DIRECTV lineup.
Why a TV maker is making Christmas movies
WatchFree+ makes its money from ads, and original movies give people a reason to open it. Walmart bought Vizio in 2024, and Vizio presented the movie to advertisers at its Advertising Week breakfast. It said Omnicom, Walmart Connect and Vizio would show how the content and commerce partnership behind the film is coming to life "across screens and in-store."
Vizio also released new usage numbers. It says Vizio OS was the top-selling smart TV operating system in the U.S. in the first half of 2026 and now reaches 32 million yearly active devices, up 20% from a year earlier. Viewing hours on WatchFree+ were up 58% year over year, based on Vizio's internal data for its second fiscal quarter of 2027.
Other free services are adding originals and creator channels too. The difference with WatchFree+ is that most people get it simply by owning the TV.
What to do now
- Have a Vizio or onn TV? You don't need to sign up for anything new. Open WatchFree+ using the steps above and look for Jingle Bells Wedding Bells once Vizio sets a date. It won't affect your TV service.
- Want the big holiday movie events? Those are on Hallmark Channel (312) and Great American Family (326). DIRECTV says its app works on Vizio smart TVs from 2017 and newer. Here's how the DIRECTV app works on Vizio smart TVs.
- Don't pay for TV? MyFree DIRECTV works with a free account and no credit card. See this week's free movies and shows on DIRECTV.
- Comparing free services? The Roku Channel has been adding free live channels as well. Here's what The Roku Channel added recently.
Want Hallmark, Great American Family and your local channels in one guide this holiday season? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884 to compare DIRECTV packages at your address.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jingle Bells Wedding Bells free to watch?
Yes. It premieres exclusively on Vizio's WatchFree+, which is free and supported by ads. You don't pay a subscription fee, though Vizio's WatchFree+ pages say you need a free VIZIO customer account.
When does Jingle Bells Wedding Bells premiere?
Vizio says it will premiere "this holiday season." As of October 7, 2026, Vizio had not announced an exact date or time.
Do I need a Vizio TV to watch WatchFree+?
WatchFree+ is built into Vizio TVs and Walmart's onn TVs that run Vizio OS. Vizio says the new movie will also stream on the web, and the VIZIO mobile app plays WatchFree+ live channels. WatchFree+ is not part of DIRECTV.
What channel is Hallmark on DIRECTV, and when does Countdown to Christmas start?
Hallmark Channel is channel 312 on DIRECTV and is included from the ENTERTAINMENT package up. Countdown to Christmas starts Friday, October 16, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET, with 34 new original movies through December 20.
Questions about holiday channels on DIRECTV or setting up streaming on your TV? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 7, 2026 (ET). Based on Vizio's October 7, 2026 announcement and WatchFree+ pages, Vizio's onn TV user manual, Hallmark Media's September 17, 2026 Countdown to Christmas announcement, Great American Media's September 22, 2026 announcement, and DIRECTV's channel lineup (effective July 29, 2026), add-on pricing and MyFree DIRECTV pages. Schedules, prices and channel numbers can change. Vizio, WatchFree+, Walmart, onn, Hallmark, Great American Family, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.