Where did the Yule Log Channel Come From?

'Twas the night before Christmas in 1966 New York City and for one local television station, no good programming was in sight. So instead of making viewers suffer through another batch of sitcom reruns, WPIX decided to give their viewers a Christmas present: a comforting shot of a crackling fireplace, to be especially appreciated by the many apartment dwellers in the city with out fireplaces of their own.

By looping video of a fireplace, complete with stockings and Christmas music, a Christmas tradition was born. It ran for three hours with out commercial, and according to Time magazine, it became a Christmas Eve tradition that beat out the competition in ratings.

After a brief hiatus the Yule Log was reinstated after 9/11 when many Americans could use something comforting and now it can be seen on television in cities across the nation. And if it isn't programmed in your area or you need a little preview, you can always check out the (admittedly less romantic) YouTube video.