Charlie Brown won’t celebrate New Year’s on network TV this year. These days the Peanuts gang is hanging out with Apple and its streaming service.
Previously, many fans got upset over the lack of Charlie Brown and Snoopy during the holidays. The Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas specials have been a staple in many’s childhoods. Fans didn’t like the idea of paying for what they once got for free.
The uproar may have got those specials to return on PBS for one night only. But it didn’t secure lesser-known specials like “Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!” That special was made in 1986, two decades after its more popular peers.
The special is only available on Apple TV+, a premium streaming service. That service costs $4.99 a month to view Snoopy and the gang and various other content. Previously, Apple has made the specials free near their associated holidays. But it decided not to do the same with the New Year’s special.
Apple Is Creating New Charlie Brown Holiday Specials
With the partnership, Apple isn’t resting on the laurels of past specials and episodes. The streaming service plans to make the most of the license by creating new content for viewers. So far, it has already begun with the “Peanuts” brand. It created an animated show “The Snoopy Show” about Brown’s famous companion.
Apple plans to make a new special about New Years for the franchise. At some point in the future, fans many have to distinguish which special they’re referring to. It’s certainly exciting to have new content for fans. But some like Michael Nebbia, who previously started a petition, may miss the simpler time.
“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,” Nebbia wrote. “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.”
But for now fans will have to subscribe to Apple TV+ to watch the Peanuts gang.
