It happens every December. You get that sudden, nostalgic itch to see the misfit elf who wants to be a dentist and the reindeer with the glowing nose, but you realize your old DVD is scratched and cable TV is a mess of commercials. Finding where to watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has actually become surprisingly tricky because of complicated licensing deals between CBS, Freeform, and the owners of the Rankin/Bass library.
Honestly, it's a bit of a licensing nightmare.
You’d think a 1964 stop-motion special would be everywhere. It isn't. Because of the way the rights are carved up, you can't just hop onto Netflix or Disney+ and hit play. If you're looking for the classic 1964 Rankin/Bass production—the one with Burl Ives as Sam the Snowman—you have to be specific about your timing and your platform.
The Linear TV Monopoly: CBS and Freeform
For decades, CBS was the exclusive home of Rudolph. If you missed that one night in early December when the network aired it, you were basically out of luck until next year. That changed a few years ago when Disney-owned Freeform entered the mix.
Now, the airing schedule is split. CBS usually gets the "broadcast premiere" of the season. This is usually a big deal, happening in late November or the first week of December. If you have an antenna, this is the only way to watch it totally for free. But Freeform actually has the rights to play it more often. During their "25 Days of Christmas" marathon, they’ll run Rudolph multiple times, often paired with Frosty the Snowman.
The catch? Freeform isn't a broadcast network. You need a cable log-in or a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or FuboTV to access it. If you’re a cord-cutter with just a base Netflix or Peacock subscription, these airings won't help you at all.
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Why Isn't It on Disney Plus?
A lot of people assume that because Freeform (owned by Disney) airs the special, it should be on Disney+. That makes sense, right? Wrong. Disney doesn't actually own the special; they just pay for the rights to broadcast it on their cable channel for a limited window. The actual ownership of the Rankin/Bass "Pre-1974" library is a tangled web involving companies like DreamWorks Animation (a subsidiary of NBCUniversal).
Because of this, you’ll occasionally see Rudolph pop up on Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu) or other niche platforms, but it rarely stays in one place for long.
The Digital Rental Trap
If you miss the live airings, your best bet for where to watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a digital purchase. This is the most reliable way to ensure you actually have access to it on Christmas Eve when the kids are restless and the TV schedule is nothing but local news and yule logs.
You can find it on:
- Amazon Prime Video
- Apple TV (iTunes)
- Vudu / Fandango at Home
- Google Play / YouTube Movies
Prices usually hover around $7.99 to $9.99 for a digital "buy" or $3.99 for a rental. Just a heads up: sometimes the "rental" option disappears during the peak week of December. The studios know people are desperate, so they occasionally pull the rental option and force you to buy the whole thing. It’s a bit of a "Bumble" move, if you ask me.
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The Physical Media Resurgence
I know, I know. Nobody wants to deal with discs. But hear me out.
The 4K Ultra HD restoration of Rudolph that came out recently is actually stunning. If you grew up watching this on a fuzzy CRT television with a coat-hanger antenna, seeing it in 4K is a revelation. You can see the actual felt on the puppets. You can see the tiny imperfections in the "snow" (which was basically just mountains of glitter and wool).
Buying the Blu-ray or 4K disc is the only way to escape the "streaming wars" entirely. It’s a one-time cost, and it usually includes a digital code anyway. Plus, you get the original 1964 audio mix, which is often superior to the compressed versions found on some streaming platforms.
A Warning About The Other Rudolphs
Don't get tricked. If you search for "Rudolph" on a streaming service, you might find Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie (1998). It’s an animated film, not stop-motion. It has its fans, but it’s not the classic. There’s also Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July, which is a fever dream of a movie that involves a winter king and a giant bird. It's weird. It’s fun. But it’s not the 1964 special you’re likely looking for.
Making a Plan for This Year
If you want to watch the classic special without spending extra cash, your best strategy is to check the CBS holiday schedule in mid-November. They usually announce the "Holiday Classic" lineup around then. Set your DVR. If you don't have a DVR, you'll have to do it the old-fashioned way: sit down at exactly 8:00 PM and watch the commercials.
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If you have a subscription to something like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV, use the search function now to "Add to Library." This way, the moment it airs on Freeform or CBS, it’ll be recorded and saved for the rest of the season.
The Bottom Line
Stop searching for it on Netflix. It’s not there. It’s never been there. It probably won't be there because of the specific licensing deal with Universal/DreamWorks.
Next Steps for Your Holiday Viewing:
- Check the Freeform "25 Days of Christmas" schedule online. They usually release the full December calendar in late October or early November.
- Scan the Amazon or Apple TV store in early November. Prices sometimes drop before the December rush.
- Verify your local CBS affiliate's airtime. If you are in a different time zone, "8/7c" means it might air earlier than you think.
- Buy the 4K/Blu-ray if you want to avoid the annual "where is it streaming?" headache forever. It's often on sale for under $10 during Black Friday.
The hunt for the Island of Misfit Toys is easier when you aren't fighting a streaming algorithm that doesn't have what you want. Stick to the broadcast schedule or buy a digital copy early. It saves a lot of stress when you just want to see Hermey finally get his dental degree.