There's no easy answer to this one, except to just say that made-for-TV movies rarely get DVD releases.

As you say, there are cable channels that air them, indeed they often depend on such films to fill their schedules (more cheaply than original programming or series reruns) -- these seem to be the future that producers envision for their telefilms.

So, the only comfort I can offer is to say that you're not alone.

You're also not alone in wishing specifically for 1996's "The Christmas Tree" on DVD. Someone's made a whole blog -- freethechristmastree.blogspot.com -- "dedicated to rescuing 'The Christmas Tree' from obscurity."

The author even wrote to Disney, which owns the video rights to the film, to ask why it hasn't been released. The only response he received was: "We will let our marketing department know you are interested in having this title available for purchase."

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