Following Protests, Apple to Allow Peanuts Specials to Air on PBS

[MacRumors]

Peanuts specials "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will air on broadcast TV after all, with Apple planning to provide them ad-free on PBS and PBS Kids on November 22, 2020 and December 13, 2020, respectively.

Apple's decision to air the specials on PBS comes following a petition from Peanuts fans unhappy with Apple gaining rights to the Peanuts content through its partnership with Wildbrain. The petition ultimately garnered more than 250,000 signatures.

Apple had planned to provide access to the specials for free through the Apple TV app, but petitioners called on the Cupertino company to bring the specials back to traditional broadcast television. Those who want to watch the Peanuts specials on television instead of through the Apple TV app will now be able to do so on select dates.

"Peanuts" fans will have even more ways to watch Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang on their holiday adventures as Apple and PBS team up for special ad-free broadcasts of "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas." To complement their release on Apple TV+ this holiday season, "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" will also air on PBS and PBS KIDS on November 22, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. local time / 6:30 p.m. CT and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will air on PBS and PBS KIDS on December 13, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. local time / 6:30 p.m. CT.

Apple also plans to stream the Peanuts specials ad-free on Apple TV. Apple will air "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" starting on November 18, and it will be free for everyone from November 25 to November 27.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" will be available on Apple TV+ starting on December 4, and it will be free to watch from December 11 to December 13.

Article Link: Following Protests, Apple to Allow Peanuts Specials to Air on PBS

 

[SDJim]

hOw DaRe ThEy MeSs WiTh My TrAdItIoN!

 

[GizmoDVD]

Wow, people are pretty terrible. Apple the good guy again for a bunch of "adults"

 

[gaximus]

Feel like a step backwards.

 

[nutmac]

Those with poor Internet or those that cannot afford to buy a bargain priced DVD at the checkout line can be happy again.

 

[iapplelove]

Those with poor Internet those that cannot afford to buy a bargain priced DVD at the checkout line can be happy again.

There are actually plenty who can’t afford internet at all. Get out of your bubble/

 

[Eduardo1971]

Win for PBS KIDS!

 

[tylersdad]

There are actually plenty who can’t afford internet at all. Get out of your bubble/

Well, clearly people who cannot afford high-speed internet do not deserve to watch Charlie Brown.

I'm kidding, of course, but that seems to be the mentality of some of the previous commenters.

 

[Apple Desktop Bus (ADB)]

There are actually plenty who can’t afford internet at all. Get out of your bubble/

These folks who were "protesting" were doing so online. They have internet access.

 

[Scipster]

These folks who were "protesting" were doing so online. They have internet access.

True, or the signatories could be allies of those experiencing hardship, which is roughly 10.5% of the US population according to Census, or closer to 15-18% when looking at SNAP data. Plenty of households are still without internet and use digital antennas for TV.

Poverty

If a family's total income is less than the official poverty threshold for a family of that size and composition, then they are considered to be in poverty.

www.census.gov

 

[fhall1]

Next they will b*itch that there's no commercials....

 

[jayducharme]

I was a huge Peanuts fan when I was a kid. I'm old enough to remember the original broadcasts of "A Charlie Brown Christmas", "Charlie Brown's All-Stars" and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown". But after those initial three, I lost interest. I'm amazed that the characters have had such staying power.

 

[Perry Barhydt]

I love Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special. Good comfort TV watchin.

 

[MikeAnd]

Pretty silly given that, even if you owned no Apple TV-capable devices, you could still watch it in the browser (which is presumably something you have access to if you can sign the petition!).

 

[nutmac]

There are actually plenty who can’t afford internet at all. Get out of your bubble/

I am not trying to deride those with poor Internet. Some of my friends have poor Internet not because they are poor, but because they live in a rural area where high-speed Internet isn't well served.

I am pretty sure poor people who really love the Peanuts can afford DVD though.

 

[dragoon2745]

I wonder if Apple is getting paid to broadcast it on local TV.

 

[buttongerald]

Well this is nice. My mom will be happy about this. She loves watching A Charlie Brown Christmas on TV every year.

 

[topdownjimmy]

Telling people what they should be able to afford is pretty crappy. $5 for a DVD is not the same as free.

 

[bookcase]

There are actually plenty who can’t afford internet at all. Get out of your bubble/

I think the people who protested this are ridiculous, and it certainly wasn't for those less fortunate than themselves. They're the same people who get triggered when the sky isn't the right shade of blue.

That said, I think Apple stepped up because there are most certainly people who can't afford unlimited Internet access, and this gives them an avenue to enjoy these specials. Bravo!

 

[mel823]

What a nice, little boost for PBS and PBS Kids.

 

[eleuthero]

There are actually plenty who can’t afford internet at all. Get out of your bubble/

Internet for people who can't afford it... at least in the US is subsidized by the government—LifeLine is an FCC program that provides reduced cost Internet to everyone who qualifies for WIC with additional subsidies in some states. T-Mobile also announced a free hotspot program for families with school-aged children.

 

[tamara6]

I'm confused - is there a disadvantage to the Peanuts specials being broadcast on PBS? I'm confused why some people think this is bad. Are you being hurt by this in some way?

 

[ecschwarz]

I'm confused - is there a disadvantage to the Peanuts specials being broadcast on PBS? I'm confused why some people think this is bad. Are you being hurt by this in some way?

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple saw this as a PR win more than anything else. Without seeing the background deals, I'm guessing Apple is going to be the underwriter for those broadcasts, throwing some money PBS's way. They look less evil for people that want to turn on the TV to channel __ and watch it, but they can throw an Apple TV+ ad/promo before or after the program and use it as another way to advertise their service.

No disadvantage for anyone planning to watch it on Apple TV+, just another option for everyone.

 

[neoelectronaut]

Since they're getting rid of commercials they should fold back in all the changes and cuts they've made to the special(s) over the years.

 

[mistabrad]

Telling people what they should be able to afford is pretty crappy. $5 for a DVD is not the same as free.

Exactly! Not to mention the fact that there are a ton of people out there who either have slow internet, low data caps, or just don't want to watch something on a phone or computer screen when they have been able to see it on a TV for decades.