A Charlie Brown Christmas on PBS: Airdate Despite Apple TV+ Deal

Consider it a fortunate turn of events. Apple has revealed today that the cherished animated holiday favorites “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be shown on television this year. This announcement follows some controversy surrounding an Apple TV+ exclusivity arrangement that resulted in the Peanuts cartoons being removed from traditional TV broadcasts.

As previously reported last month, the agreement initially meant the first instance in 55 years that the well-loved Christmas special would not be aired on a major television network. Both of these holiday programs seemed destined for the same outcome as the 1966 Halloween special, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”

Although Apple’s licensing agreement included a provision for a period of free broadcast availability, many felt that limiting a long-standing holiday tradition to a paid subscription service contradicted the original special’s strong, pro-consumer viewpoint.

Fortunately, alongside its availability on Apple TV+, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” will be broadcast on PBS and PBS Kids on November 22, 2020, at 7:30 pm local time/6:30 pm Central Time, and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will air on December 13, 2020, at 7:30 pm local time/6:30 pm Central Time.

This is a positive development, and a welcome one in the current climate. Moreover, these broadcasts will be presented without commercial interruptions.