'Peanuts' holiday specials won't air on broadcast TV this year
Fans of nostalgia will need to download Apple TV+ this holiday season if they want to catch any of the Charlie Brown specials.
That's because Apple has scooped up the broadcast rights to the Peanuts back catalogue, and will be making them available to its subscribers.
That includes "It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," which began streaming on Monday, but will be available for free to non-subscribers (who download the Apple TV+ app) from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1.
That same will happen with "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" – which will available to view from Nov. 18 and will be free for non-subscribers from Nov. 25-27.
Then, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will go live on Apple TV+ on Dec. 4, and will be free to non-subscribers between Dec. 11-13.
In terms of the Halloween special, it's the first time since it was first released in 1966 that it won't be broadcast on a traditional TV channel. It was first shown by CBS before eventually transferring over to ABC.
Apple is in the process of creating new Peanuts shows for its streaming platform, which will include a series of new specials for Mother's Day, Earth Day, New Year's Eve, and Back to School.
