Peanuts Fans Unhappy With Specials Being Limited to Apple TV+, Petition Tops 100,000 Signatures

Apple has a content deal with WildBrain, the company behind the popular "Peanuts" franchise. The deal includes original content like "The Snoopy Show," and, as announced earlier this month, Peanuts specials for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Mother's Day, Earth Day, New Year's Eve, and more.

peanutsspecialsappletvpetition
Longtime Peanuts fans are unhappy with the news that Peanuts specials are going to be limited to Apple TV+, and have created a petition urging WildBrain to bring the content back to broadcast TV.

For over 50 years, we have celebrated the holidays with the airings of the Peanuts holiday specials on TV - first on CBS, then on ABC. To our shock and dismay, last night it was announced that Apple had swiped the football from us and claimed the specials for their Apple TV platform, leaving us devoted fans who have grown up with Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang in the dark, unable to watch.

The petition urges Peanuts fans to "stand up to Apple and WildBrain" with the aim of getting Peanuts back on television. At the time of writing, it has gathered more than 100,000 signatures, though it's not clear if the petition will be successful.

Apple and WildBrain likely anticipated Peanuts fans being unhappy with the ‌Apple TV‌+ exclusivity. The Halloween special, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," premiered on ‌Apple TV‌+ on October 19 for ‌Apple TV‌+ subscribers, but Apple is also making it free to watch from October 30 through November 1.

charlie brown
"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" launches on November 18 for ‌Apple TV‌+ subscribers and will be free from November 25 through November 27, and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will be available for subscribers on December 4 but will be free from December 11 to December 13.

Though the classic specials will be available for free in the ‌Apple TV‌ app, watching them still requires having access to the app in the first place on an iOS device, Mac, ‌Apple TV‌, or other compatible device.

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?

Wednesday September 24, 2025 3:58 pm PDT by
With the iPhone 15 series, I did an experiment and kept my iPhone's Charge Limit set at 80 percent for an entire year. It provided an interesting look at the impact of charge limits on battery longevity, so I decided to repeat it for the iPhone 16 line. Since September 2024, my iPhone 16 Pro Max has been limited to an 80 percent charge, with no cheating. As of today, my battery's maximum...
AirPods Pro 3 Newsroom

Apple's 'Back to School' Offer Ends Soon, Now Applies to AirPods Pro 3

Wednesday September 24, 2025 7:20 am PDT by
Apple's annual "Back to School" promotion for students ends soon, so act fast if you want to score free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad. Until Tuesday, September 30, college students and qualifying educational staff in the U.S. can receive free AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation when they purchase an eligible new Mac or iPad from Apple. This is a $179 value. ...
Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Thursday September 25, 2025 1:11 pm PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system codenamed "Charismatic," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple smart home hub concept based on rumors This is likely Apple's long-rumored "homeOS" operating system. In a report last month, Gurman said both Apple's rumored smart home hub in 2026 and tabletop robot in 2027 will run the new operating system. He said the software platform ...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

Apple Blames In-Store MagSafe Chargers for iPhone 17 Pro Display Model Scratches

Wednesday September 24, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
The marks on the iPhone 17 Pro models that people have noticed at Apple retail stores are caused by the chargers that Apple uses, Apple confirmed today. Apple told 9to5Mac that worn MagSafe charging stands in stores are causing marks on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple says that the marks are not scratches, and are instead material transfer from the stand to the phone. The...
iPhone 17 Pro Colors

Skipped the iPhone 17 Pro? Here's What is Rumored for iPhone 18 Pro

Tuesday September 23, 2025 8:55 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still a year away, there are already a few rumors about the devices that offer an early look ahead. Below, we have recapped some of the early iPhone 18 Pro rumors so far. This story was published previously, and it has been updated to reflect the latest rumors. Many early rumors prove to be true, but nothing is confirmed yet, and Apple's...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.1 Beta 1

Monday September 22, 2025 12:44 pm PDT by
Apple released the first beta of iOS 26.1 today, just a week after launching iOS 26. iOS 26.1 mainly adds new languages to Apple Intelligence, but there are a few other features that are worth knowing about. New Apple Intelligence Languages Apple Intelligence is now available in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. AirPo...
ios 26 digital id passport wallet

Apple Confirms iOS 26 Wallet Passport Feature is Coming in 2025

Tuesday September 23, 2025 1:06 pm PDT by
Digital ID, the iOS 26 feature that lets U.S. passport holders add their passports to the Wallet app, is coming later in 2025, Apple confirmed today. Apple updated the release timing wording of Digital ID on its iOS 26 features page. "Digital ID will be coming later this year with US passports only," it reads. Prior to today, the footnote for the feature said "Digital ID will be available ...
apple tv 4k new orange

Next Apple TV Expected to Launch This Year With These New Features

Monday September 22, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
The next Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Likely Features N1 Chip With Wi-Fi 7 Last year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the next Apple TV would be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which is...
iPhone 17 Pro USB C Port

iPhone 17 Pro Max's USB-C Charging Speeds Tested With Apple Chargers

Monday September 22, 2025 7:29 am PDT by
The website ChargerLAB has tested the iPhone 17 Pro Max's USB-C charging speeds with a variety of Apple's chargers, from 18W to 140W. The device reached a peak charging speed of around 36W with the following Apple chargers:40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max 61W USB-C Power Adapter 67W USB-C Power Adapter 70W USB-C Power Adapter 96W USB-C Power Adapter 140W USB-C Power AdapterFor...

Top Rated Comments

LeadingHeat Avatar
64 months ago
Oh my gosh. People, stop whining. It’s being offered for free, it’s not even paywalled behind Apple TV+.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SW3029 Avatar
64 months ago
Just subscribe to Apple TV Plus. It's 5 bucks. Or watch it for free on Halloween weekend, you know, when Apple is letting everyone watch it for free.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
4jasontv Avatar
64 months ago

How would anyone without an Apple TV watch it, free or paid?
On their iPhone, iPad, smart TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Mac, ChomeOS device, Windows, or any android device.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tekriter Avatar
64 months ago
Someone asked in an earlier reply - who could possibly be a longtime Peanuts fan? Me, for one.

A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired when I was ten years old. I had been an avid reader of Peanuts for a couple of years. I still remember how excited I and my friends were - Charlie Brown was going to be on TV! It was maybe six or seven years later that I actually saw it in color.

I try to never miss seeing it again and again; I’m sure that in some years along the way I may have forgotten to watch, or to set it to record. I’m 65 now. I’ve watched it with my kids, and with their kids too. And somewhere in the house I know we have it on DVD, but I don’t think it’s been opened.

Streaming it, or watching the DVD just isn’t the same. I guess you have to be of a certain age to remember the feeling of anticipation. The feeling that it’s only two more days until something would be on! Rudolph, Frosty, A Christmas Carol, The Wizard of Oz - all appointment tv before the Age of VCRs. Dinner’s over, and it’s almost seven o’clock!

I’m sure I’ll watch it again this year, but something‘s been lost along the way.

And for the person who suggested just pirating it - you really need to see it. There’s a message in it that you need.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
G5isAlive Avatar
64 months ago

Just subscribe to Apple TV Plus. It's 5 bucks. Or watch it for free on Halloween weekend, you know, when Apple is letting everyone watch it for free.
But I am going to miss all those commercials that you used to get with broadcast tv... that's the real authentic feel.. wah wah wahhhhhh. /s
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
acorntoy Avatar
64 months ago

How would anyone without an Apple TV watch it, free or paid?
Apple tv app available through most smart tv's now.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)