It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown moving to Apple+

[TheMadScientist]

Recently I was trying to find when ABC will be airing It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown this year, and unfortunately, it appears that they won't be. According to this article (https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/its-the-great-pumpkin-charlie-brown-streaming-apple-tv.html), the Peanuts specials will now be streaming exclusively on Apple+, which really is disappointing. As a pretty big Peanuts fan, while I appreciate that Apple+ is making new Peanuts shows and specials, it really is a shame that they can't be broadcast on TV as they have been for decades. 

If there's any silver lining, it's is that you will be able to watch the special on Apple+ during the periods they list in that article, though I just don't feel like that's going to be the same as having it broadcast. I know the licensing contract with ABC was ending this year, so perhaps this is a temporary thing, and the Peanuts specials could be back on broadcast next year. I read somewhere that when their licensing agreement with CBS ended in 2000 (before ABC picked it up), they didn't show the specials that year, but I'm not sure if that's true. Regardless, based on the reaction to this on social media, it looks like most people aren't happy, so perhaps the powers that be will change their minds. Who knows.

[Sir Masksalot]

Is Apple+ programming commercial-free?

[TheMadScientist]

Is Apple+ programming commercial-free?

I'm not sure. I know to get everything on the app you have to pay a monthly subscription fee (I think it's like $4.99 a month). But like I said, if you sign up for the app, I believe there are certain days where they'll be showing the Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas specials for free.

[Kidagain]

That totally sucks. Need to protest, make signs, march around our computers and let our voices be heard. This just ruined my holiday season.

[Doh!]

Even though I own a digital copy and can watch it (again) at my leisure, this news is depressing. Apple+ has such a limited viewership compared to network TV, they're really killing a chance to have a large group of kids watch it for the first -- or 51st -- time.

Get yer own Halloween programming, Apple+!!

[LundyAfterMidnight]

Another ploy to get us to spend more $.

[Monsters For Sale]

I saw that article.

Glad I have it on disc.

[TheMadScientist]

Yeah, it's depressing news. A lot of people are pretty upset on social media, so I'm hopeful that the negative reaction will get them to change their minds in time for A Charlie Brown Christmas to air on broadcast in December, though that's wishful thinking. It would be nice if they get a broadcast deal in place by next year though. Interestingly, the announcement for this says the special is "streaming exclusively on Apple+", so the language doesn't make it clear if their deal rules out the shows being on broadcast. Like I said, I know the ABC broadcasting agreement ended this year anyway, so perhaps that is playing a part in the shows not being aired this year, and they (or another network) be able to work something out quickly.

[Nosferatu79]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think "It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" aired in 2019. There are so many wonderful Halloween and Christmas specials that are never played anymore, and then they had to remove the last remaining Halloween special.

But we could count on "A Charlie Brown Christmas"...until now.

I sure hope they leave Rudolph alone!

I remember at least once they removed Shermy's one line of dialogue, where he complains about being the shepherd in the Christmas play every year. I guess he should have just been glad back then that he wasn't removed completely.

Now that it's all being moved to a pay service (instead of just being available there in addition to being on regular TV) I saw a comment elsewhere that indicated that stealing away the Christmas one (with it's message against greed) to make us pay to see it, is even more wrong than it would already be, since people look forward to it every year as a tradition.

[Monsters For Sale]

I do enjoy having my own BLU-Ray disc to watch anytime I want, but...

No more watching it "live" on TV, when you know many 10's of thousands with full popcorn bowls  are watching at exactly the same time.  We've lost that sense of immediacy/simultaneity that made it extra special.

Remember the time when TCM aired their "Drive-In Double Features" for 5 weeks?  We had the schedule posted here and were all tuning in at the same time to watch movies we didn't yet have in our collections - and even watch some we DID have, just to all be sharing them at the same time with fellow UMA'ers - a virtual drive-in.   Remember what fun that was, even though a lot of the movies were real stinkers?  (Man, I wish they would repeat that.)

     http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=13935.msg224919#msg224919
                    (Didn't they give us a fun line-up?  -  They never repeated the idea again.)


We all just lost that special feeling for "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown".  Can't blame COVID for this one, it was corporate greed that killed Linus' dream.

[Kidagain]

Can't find full version of it on youtube.

[TheMadScientist]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think "It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" aired in 2019. There are so many wonderful Halloween and Christmas specials that are never played anymore, and then they had to remove the last remaining Halloween special.

I'm almost positive Great Pumpkin aired two times last year.

We all just lost that special feeling for "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown".  Can't blame COVID for this one, it was corporate greed that killed Linus' dream.

I'm pretty curious why it won't be broadcast this year. Since Apple is making new Peanuts shows and specials, did Apple insist on having exclusive rights? Or did ABC (a sub of Disney) not want to renew the broadcasting deal because of the new Peanuts shows on Apple? Disney has never really been one to promote content from a competitor, and the Disney+ streaming service is in direct competition with Apple+. Regardless, it's a shame. I'm hoping that something eventually gets worked at for the shows to return to broadcast, even if it's on a different network. I can't imagine the viewership on Apple+ being anything close to what it was on broadcast the last few years.

[BijouBob8mm]

I've been hearing a lot of DJs trashing this move on the air, in several markets.

[Mike Scott]

I've been hearing a lot of DJs trashing this move on the air, in several markets.

What movie?

[BijouBob8mm]

LOL  I said "MOVE," not "movie."