You won't see 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' on TV this year. Here's how to watch.
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is a Halloween staple for generations of viewers. But even though it returned to public TV last year, it won't be the same this time around.
The beloved annual Halloween special premiered on CBS in 1966, one year after the popular Peanuts crew starred in another holiday favorite, "A Charlie Brown Christmas." The Halloween special moved to ABC in 2001.
But public outrange ensued when "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and the other Peanuts holiday specials were moved to AppleTV+ as part of a corporate deal in 2020, marking the first time it wouldn't be shown on public TV since its debut more than 50 years ago. A sense of normalcy was reached in 2021 when the special was aired on PBS.
There was hope for the special to stay on public TV, but PBS said in a tweet Sept. 29that it didn't have the rights to distribute any Peanuts specials this year.
"We’ll all have to watch for the Great Pumpkin in a different pumpkin patch this Halloween," PBS said.
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Streaming will be the only way to watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," but there is a chance to watch it for free this month. Here's how:
How to watch 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown'
Apple TV+ announced on Oct. 11 it would be streaming "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and the other Peanuts holiday classics.
The special is available to Apple TV+ users anytime. You won't need a subscription to watch it, however. Apple TV+ will make "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" free to stream Oct. 28-31.
Here's when all the Peanuts holiday classics will be available free:
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”: Oct. 28-31.
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”: Nov. 23-27.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas”: Dec. 22-25.
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to watch 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' for free in 2022
