Charlie Brown and the Peanuts holiday specials return to free TV

Updated: Nov 18, 2020 / 02:04 PM CST

CHICAGO (NewsNation Now) — It wouldn’t be a true holiday season without the Peanuts gang.

The “Great Pumpkin” never showed on broadcast television this year, but after a deal between Apple TV+ and PBS, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” specials will return to network TV.

Earlier this year, Apple TV+ got exclusive rights to the Peanuts holiday specials including: “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” – meaning they were no longer available for free.

This image released by Apple shows key art for the animated classic “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” holiday special. (Apple via AP)

Shortly after the news broke, Charlie Brown fan, Michael Nebbia, created an online petition to restore the programs to network TV. Apple responded by cutting a deal with PBS to make the holiday specials widely available again.

The ad-free broadcasts will be available in primetime on November 22 at 7:30/6:30c (Thanksgiving) and December 13 at 7:30/6:30c (Christmas), according to TV Insider.

You will also be able to stream the shows at your convenience on Apple TV+. The platform will offer some free viewing windows around each holiday.

This image released by Apple shows key art for the animated classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas” holiday special. (Apple via AP)

“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” will be available for free from Nov. 25 until Nov. 27 on the platform, and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be available to customers for free from Dec. 11 until Dec. 13.

The holiday specials have aired annually on broadcast television since the 1960s.