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

[btrach144]

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?

Seriously. It’s shocking how far people will go to defend apple.

peanuts holiday specials have been around forever on PBS. My bet is many of the older people would be impacted most. My grandma has no idea what Apple TV+ is but she does watch pbs. That’s the kind of person apple limited to seeing the peanuts specials.

 

[btrach144]

I think this was precisely the issue, though. The specials have been publicly available for 50 years (via broadcast TV). It feels wrong to many people to take something that used to be publicly available and make it now available only to people who are willing to pay extra (for a DVD, Apple TV, or what have you). Yes, these people may already be paying for basic cable. Or maybe they are watching over the air. But to add an extra pay wall for something that didn't used to have it, is, I think the issue.

A secondary issue is that this isn't even intellectual property developed by Apple. It is as though Apple has taken something that was (for practical purposes) in the public domain and has locked it up. And it wasn't even theirs in the first place. It doesn't really matter if you can afford the extra pay wall or not. It is as though Apple is imposing an extra "watching tax" for something that wasn't theirs to begin with. I think that is what bothered a lot of people - however many signed the petition.

Same thing is going on the art world. Collectors are buying up rare art and storing them in warehouses rather than museums. Nobody gets to enjoy them.

it’s wrong from a cultural perspective.

 

[Nedstah]

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

And your folks old, aluminum rooftop antenna still picks up ATSC OTA.

 

[Nedstah]

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

Like me but I know a lot don't. Empathy had me sign the petition - and Apple agreed.

 

[Nedstah]

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

It's going to be on Public Television, the network with no major advertisements that you help pay for with your tax dollars.

 

[Nedstah]

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!

I'm one of those ridiculous people who thinks voicing your opinions/concerns is part of a democratic process. And the sky here is a brilliant blue, carolina blue one might say

 

[rillrill]

Apple should add to the credits, “here ya go, ya bunch of babies!”

 

[Maconplasma]

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

Ha, damn this a good comeback!!!

 

[Maconplasma]

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple saw this as a PR win more than anything else.

I really wish people would stop with ridiculous posts like this. Apple has plenty of money and Apple a household word like Nike, Adidas, Coke and Pepsi. They don't need some stupid PR for allowing the Peanuts specials to be on PBS. Give it a rest. 🙄

 

[Maconplasma]

I can't believe this entire thread is arguing over what's right and wrong when it comes to a Charlie Brown show that no doubt some here have never watched even once. Only because it's Apple is why there's any argument at all. SMH. Had this been Microsoft who bought the rights to watch Peanuts on Xbox-only nobody would've said a word other than "Eh who cares it's on Xbox, I used to watch Charlie Brown as a kid and my own kids never heard of him"

 

[Johnny907]

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!).

Yes yes, come children; let us gather ‘round the 15” monitor and enjoy the Emmy winning score on these trash 1” speakers like Apple fanboys intended.

 

[Jimmy James]

People still watch broadcast tv?

 

[MacBH928]

See...complaining, nagging, and petitions work...

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

Internet costs like $60/m and maybe less. If you can't afford that even as a household you have a lot more trouble than watching Snoopy.

 

[iapplelove]

See...complaining, nagging, and petitions work...

Internet costs like $60/m and maybe less. If you can't afford that even as a household you have a lot more trouble than watching Snoopy.

My comment was more motivated from a user under the impression everyone can afford the internet. The entertainment part was irrelevant to me.

 

[SkippyThorson]

What an oddly-Apple PR release... about Peanuts...

Might as well have been:

"Peanuts" fans will have slightly more ways to watch Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang on their non-denominational, non-secular, religion-non-specific, seasonally-winter-themed-holiday adventures as Apple and PBS team up for relatively ad-free broadcasts of "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas." To supplement their underwhelming release nearly restricted to Apple TV+, viewers will notice 3 times snappier browsing with Safari, up to 5 times faster performance on iPhone, and nearly 8 hours more battery life to watch, view, stream, torrent, listen, and read along with Charlie Brown, Snoopy and all of their friends. These performance updates and more, couple with Apple's new Woodstock emulation layer, will mean that your optimally improved experience can be shared with friends and family on iMac and Mac mini, 2018 and newer, Mac Pro, as well as MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, 2020 and newer. Minimum 4gb available Ram required. iOS 12 and higher required for viewing. iPod touch excluded; hate that thing.

 

[mannyvel]

Apple will probably stick a big Apple TV+ ad right there in the normal PBS sponsor area.

I hated the series as a kid, and I'm sad to see that this is going to be foisted on yet another generation. This show needs to die a miserable death. Seriously, church is more interesting.

 

[Jakexb]

Can't believe they forgot the 28th amendment: the right to watch a Charlie Brown Christmas without using any technology from the past 30 years.

 

[SteveJobsDidntWantThis]

hard to believe this is not satire...

 

[4jasontv]

Am I entitled to all holiday specials presented in a format I prefer, or just this one?

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Depending on when published, there may be a ways to go before they're public domain. My media law professor from years ago is probably a little disappointed how much I forgot about it, but I think written was something like the author's life + 70 years, and maybe film/TV falls under a window from the publication date onward. The copyright laws have been rewritten, extended, and since those fall well before the most recent revisions, it's not as easy as today.

Edit: I had to go look it up - it's a little messy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_law_of_the_United_States#Works_created_before_1978

Yeah, once companies realized ”You mean, people actually still WANT to watch/read the stuff I created years ago?“ they made sure the laws were changed Reboots of your own IP is free and you can do it forever!

The Christmas and Halloween specials are remembered almost as much for the Vince Guaraldi Trio soundtracks as they are for the shows themselves. Later specials did not have the incredible music.

I seem to recall that this was the first wide introduction to the world of that style of Jazz. Was controversial at the time and almost didn’t air at all!

peanuts holiday specials have been around forever on PBS.

I seem to recall a stint on one or another of the broadcast networks. Maybe they ended up on PBS, but I think CBS had the “rights to air” at one point?

 

[ecschwarz]

I seem to recall a stint on one or another of the broadcast networks. Maybe they ended up on PBS, but I think CBS had the “rights to air” at one point?

I don't think PBS has had it, but CBS was there forever and ever and ABC most recently had them.

 

[dcny]

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

That's fake news. Then why do they own a TV? Why do they deserve free stuff just because they can't afford it? They can't afford Apple TV+, so they have the rights to demand whatever they want? And how did they sign the protest? by mail? Get out of your bubble, sir.

 

[dcny]

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?

We paid money for it. Why do those people can watch for free? I'm confused about why you are confused?

 

[dcny]

My comment was more motivated from a user under the impression everyone can afford the internet. The entertainment part was irrelevant to me.

Who can't afford the internet today? They can just stand next to LinkNYC and get high-speed internet. Get out of your bubble.

 

[Vjosullivan]

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

Corporates that buy up anything that they can get their hands on, ring fence it and demand payments for everything are not the "good guys".