One Charlie Brown special this year will be ghosting traditional TV this year.
The popular Peanuts Halloween special “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” will not be airing on PBS this year.
This was confirmed by the official PBS Kids Twitter account recently where a user asked if the network would be airing the special this year, with that answer being that it will not due to not having the rights to the special.
Regretfully, PBS does not have the rights to distribute the Peanuts specials this year. We’ll all have to watch for the Great Pumpkin in a different pumpkin patch this Halloween.
— PBS KIDS (@PBSKIDS) September 29, 2022
Previously in 2021, the Charlie Brown Halloween and other holiday specials aired on PBS for one night only. Just the Thanksgiving and Christmas specials aired on PBS in 2020, but not the Halloween special.
Now the holiday specials are currently only available to stream exclusively on Apple TV+.
In 2018, Apple acquired the rights to the Peanuts/Charlie Brown franchise and has since made new original content on Apple TV+ regarding it such as “The Snoopy Show,” “It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” and “Lucy’s School.”
It is unclear why Apple and PBS have not reached some sort of deal on airing the holiday specials this year and if Apple will have plans down the road to air either the Thanksgiving or Christmas specials on PBS.
Additionally, it is also unknown if Apple will have a date or timeline selected for people to stream the special through Apple TV+ for free. Apple did this for the Thanksgiving and Christmas specials in 2020.
Apple TV+ currently costs $4.99 a month and is available to stream through the Apple TV app.
If you are looking to not get another streaming service subscription and perhaps just want the Blu-ray or DVD, we do have a couple of options. The first is the 4K Ultra HD version through Best Buy (which would come with a digital copy of the special) for just $13.99 and the simple DVD version through Target for $9.94.
Both companies do accept Apple Pay in their stores, apps, and websites.
What are your thoughts on “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” not airing on PBS this year? Comment below or let us know on Twitter at @appleosophy.
It is absolutely appalling that It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown won’t air this year. It has been a family tradition in many homes for generations. My family always gathered to watch this and all the other holiday specials. It sad that the almighty dollar takes prescient over quality family programming. Shame on Apple TV for not bothering with the family traditions and values that made this country. All that has gone by the wayside and greed, has taken its place. I for one will NOT subscribe to Apple TV for any reason. Praying that my one small voice will speak volumes!
Hey Mark,
Thanks for your comment! It’s a shame that it worked out this way! Unfortunately family traditions probably aren’t at the top of Apple TV’s list since they’re trying to compete with all the other steaming providers with these specially run programs.
Keep your eyes peeled here for more information as we might find out how to stream it without Apple TV!
– Chris