Skip to main content

This animated holiday special used to broadcast on television networks like ABC. Thanks to a recent partnership, though, A Charlie Brown Christmas will only be available on one streaming platform for 2020. Oh, good grief.

Here’s what we know about A Charlie Brown Christmas and which streaming platform it will be available on.

Some Peanuts specials play on the television network, Freeform

One of the most beloved productions featuring Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, and the rest of the gang is their holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas. In it, Charlie Brown decorates his iconic tree and learns the true meaning of the holiday, thanks to a speech from Linus.

Over the years, this Peanuts production, as well as holiday specials like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown broadcasted on the television network ABC, as well as Freeform. 

However, due to a new partnership with Apple, A Charlie Brown Christmas will be available exclusively on Apple’s streaming service (as well as for purchase on Amazon and other retailers.)

Most ‘Peanuts’ animated classics are available on Apple TV+

Fans can stream Peanuts holiday specials with a subscription to Apple TV+, which costs $4.99 per month. As of Nov. 25, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will be available for streaming on Apple’s subscription service, Apple TV+. 

According to Showbiz Cheat Sheet, the 1965 holiday special A Charlie Brown Christmas will be available on Apple TV+ beginning Dec. 4. Subscribers can stream the classic from Dec. 11 through Dec. 13. Because of this partnership, this holiday special will most likely not broadcast on the television network ABC, which has Walt Disney Studios as its parent company. 

According to Comicbook.com, “Apple has worked out a deal with [WildBrain] (who holds a stake in the Peanuts franchise) to produce original content for Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts crew, which [WildBrain] will produce (via THR).”

That means fans can expect new Peanut adventures to premiere exclusively on Apple TV+. However, for Disney+ subscribers, there is one movie starring Charlie Brown available on this rival platform. 

'A Charlie Brown Christmas'
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ | Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)
Related

Chris Evans Hopes ‘Captain America’ Will Have the Same Impact as the ‘Pop Culture Phenomenon,’ ‘Star Wars’

‘The Peanuts Movie’ joined the Disney+ streaming library in August 2020

Thanks to the partnership with Apple, Charlie Brown’s Christmas special is not available on Disney+. That’s not to say Charlie Brown is completely absent from Disney’s streaming platform.

The Peanuts Movie, originally released in 2015, joined the company’s subscription service during August 2020. Disney+ is considered by many subscribers to be the youngest-skewing streaming service, housing content created by Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel.

There’s also plenty of Disney award-winning animated movies, including Princess and the Frog, Beauty and the Beast, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  

There’s also some holiday content already available on Disney’s streaming platform, including The Santa Clause franchise and the Home Alone franchise.

Best in Entertainment