Thanksgiving and Christmas may look much different for millions of Americans this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. But PBS has announced that at least one tradition would continue intact: the Charlie Brown holiday specials will air on television.
What We Know:
- The yearly holiday tradition was questioned in October when Apple TV+ agreed with Peanuts Worldwide and Lee Mendelson Film Productions to be the single home of the Peanuts’ holiday specials.
- Although PBS stated it’s too late for It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, the other holiday specials, Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas will broadcast ad-free on PBS and PBS Kids on November 22 and December 13, at 7:30 p.m. local time/6:30 p.m. CT.
- Charlie Brown episodes will also be available for ad-free, HD streaming on Apple TV+. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will be ready to stream starting November 18, with free streaming available from November 25 through November 27.
- With last month’s news that the Peanuts characters would be only on Apple TV+, hundreds of thousands of fans signed a petition on The Change.org to return Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang back on TV.
We’re feeling very thankful to team up with @AppleTV to share #ACharlieBrownThanksgiving with you this year! Tune in to this special one-night event on PBS and @PBSKIDS on Sun, Nov 22 at 7:30/6:30c. pic.twitter.com/ADW1R0FvCv
— PBS (@PBS) November 18, 2020
- PBS stated that A Charlie Brown Christmas will be available starting December 4, with free streaming from December 11 through December 13.
Apple announced Wednesday it had teamed up with @PBS for ad-free broadcasts of “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (on Nov. 22) and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (on Dec. 13). (via @NewsHourArts) https://t.co/fkgmv7ByXf
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) November 18, 2020
- Petitioner Michael Nebbia expressed, “To our shock and dismay, last night it was announced that Apple had swiped the football from us and claimed the specials for their Apple TV platform, leaving us devoted fans who have grown up with Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang in the dark, unable to watch,” “…The time for saying ‘Good Grief’ is over.”
For subscribers, the specials are going to be available beginning November 18 and December 4.
