October 18, 2022 / Modified oct 18, 2022 11:24 a.m.
Watching 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' has been an iconic Halloween experience for generations of viewers.by NPR/Matt Adams, Audience Engagement Strategist
VIEW LARGER "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" streams for free on Apple TV+ on Friday, October 28 to Monday, October 31. Photo Courtesy of Apple
Watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown has been an iconic Halloween experience for generations of viewers since it first aired 56 years ago. Now, for just the second time since its release, the Great Pumpkin will be not be coming to television's pumpkin patches.
Along with A Charlie Brown Christmas, the classic fall movie first aired on CBS in 1966. The two movies played on the station for decades before both moved to ABC in 2000 and 2001, respectively. In 2018, Apple bought the rights to all of the Peanut specials, and the films became exclusively available to stream on Apple TV+ in 2020.
In a partnership with the streamer, PBS was allowed to air the specials in 2021. But this year, PBS no longer has the rights, and confirmed that it won't be airing the Halloween show.
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
Apple TV+ said in a press release that will provide free windows for nonsubscribers to stream the iconic holiday specials. These movies are available to subscribers year-round.
- It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown - Oct. 28-31
- A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving - Nov. 23-27
- A Charlie Brown Christmas - Dec. 22-25
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