“Charlie Brown” fans, rejoice — the “Peanuts” holiday specials will air on broadcast TV this year, after all.
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will both air on PBS, thanks to a new deal with Apple, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Apple acquired the rights to the “Peanuts” specials in October, which meant that the Halloween classic “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” aired exclusively on Apple TV Plus this year and wasn’t shown on broadcast TV for the first time in 55 years, as the Deseret News reported at the time.
But after an outcry from fans and online petitions, the Thanksgiving and Christmas specials will be shown on PBS on Nov. 22 and Dec. 13, respectively, according to the Associated Press.
The specials will also be available to watch on Apple TV Plus for free to non-subscribers for a limited time, THR reported. The Thanksgiving special will be free to watch on Nov. 27, and the Christmas special will be available Dec. 11-13.
The deal that Apple made last month will also make Apple TV Plus the home for new “Peanuts” specials and series, according to Deadline. There are already plans in the works for new specials to celebrate Mother’s Day, Earth Day, New Year’s Eve, and the first day of school.
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” will air Nov. 22 on PBS at 6:30 p.m. MST and PBS Kids 24/7 at 7:30 p.m. MST. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will air Dec. 13 on PBS at 6:30 p.m. MST and PBS Kids 24/7 at 7:30 p.m. MST.