It’s no secret Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years’ will not be the same this year. Many folks will choose not to visit with friends and family due to the coronavirus pandemic, instead opting to visit using streaming chat services like Zoom, and most folks are likely to skip those in-store Black Friday deals shop and online instead. And as though there were not already enough disruptions to our traditions this season, we learned that Apple TV+ purchased the exclusive rights to all the Peanuts specials, including “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” That meant that these classic cartoons would not broadcast on TV for the first time in decades.
For many longtime Peanuts fans, this news was just a bridge too far. And thankfully, Apple heard the outraged protests and desperate pleas on social media. So, they agreed to a deal with PBS to allow the channel to air the Christmas and Thanksgiving specials on free TV after all. However, this may be the last year you can watch Charlie Brown and all his friends on free TV. Plus, all the broadcasts will be commercial-free. You’ll be able to watch “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” on your local PBS station on November 22 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
You’re on PBS, Charlie Brown: Apple Will Share ‘Peanuts’ Holiday Specials With Public TV https://t.co/hq5aVntkVe
— Variety (@Variety) November 18, 2020
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” will air on December 13 at 7:30 p.m EST.
REJOICE PEANUTS FANS! The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Christmas Specials, will in fact air this year on PBS and PBS Kids!
This comes off the heels of Apple TV+ trying to have them as streaming exclusives after being TV tradition for decades. That didn't go well. pic.twitter.com/qb5nPgz5cT
— TRAFON (@RiseFallNick) November 19, 2020
Now, if you happen to have plans for those nights, you can still watch the specials for free, but you will need to stream them using Apple TV+.
Charlie Brown will be on free tv after all. Yes, Apple TV+ now owns the rights to all things Charlie Brown BUT PBS has come through. pic.twitter.com/vFB3q2g0T3
— Norcalcop……Starting Over (@norcalcop) November 19, 2020
Apple’s streaming service is offering a short window to allow fans to watch the specials for free.
Apple reaches deal to air "Charlie Brown" special on PBS https://t.co/aVsYoRvtyU pic.twitter.com/MbtzKhFMQI
— The Hill (@thehill) November 19, 2020
The window for the Thanksgiving special is November 25 – 27, and for the Christmas Special, it’s available free of cost from December 11 – 13. You can also watch a video talking about this wonderful news below.