The 2024 Charlie Brown Christmas Guide: Why It’s Not On TV And How To Watch It For FREE This Year

The tradition of gathering around the television for the annual broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas has officially changed for the 2024 holiday season. This year, as in the past couple of years, the beloved 1965 animated classic will not be airing on major network television like ABC or a public broadcaster like PBS, marking a permanent shift in how families must access the iconic Peanuts special. The exclusive home for Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole gang remains the Apple TV+ streaming service.

For those without a subscription, there is excellent news: Apple TV+ is continuing its holiday generosity by offering a limited-time free streaming window for the special. This updated guide provides the only confirmed ways to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas in December 2024, ensuring you don't miss Linus’s famous speech.

The 2024 Official Viewing Schedule: Free Streaming Dates Confirmed

The biggest question every holiday season—"When is A Charlie Brown Christmas on TV?"—now has a definitive, non-traditional answer. It is no longer on traditional broadcast television. Instead, the special is available exclusively on Apple TV+, the home of all Peanuts content.

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The key dates for the 2024 season focus entirely on the streaming platform.

• Exclusive Streaming Home: Apple TV+ (Subscription Required)
• Limited-Time Free Streaming Window: Saturday, December 14, 2024, and Sunday, December 15, 2024.

During this two-day window, anyone can stream the special for free without needing an Apple TV+ subscription or even registering for a free trial. This is a crucial detail for families who only want to watch the special and do not want to commit to a monthly service.

Why the Peanuts Specials Are No Longer on Broadcast TV

The shift away from network television is a direct result of a major licensing deal. For decades, the Peanuts holiday specials—including A Charlie Brown Christmas, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving—were staples of CBS and later ABC.

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In 2020, Apple acquired the exclusive rights to the entire Peanuts catalog, making Apple TV+ the sole distributor.

The End of the PBS Broadcast Deal

When Apple first acquired the rights, there was an agreement to allow the specials to air on PBS for two years (2020 and 2021) to maintain the public access tradition.

The last confirmed broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas on PBS was in 2022. As of the 2024 holiday season, that broadcast deal has not been renewed, meaning the special will not be shown on PBS or any other broadcast channel.

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This move is part of a broader trend where classic, high-value intellectual property (IP) is being pulled from traditional television and consolidated onto specific streaming platforms to drive subscriptions. For Peanuts fans, this means adapting to the new streaming-first reality.

How to Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas (Subscription-Free)

If you prefer not to subscribe to Apple TV+, the free streaming window is your best and only option to watch the special legally and for free. To ensure you don't miss it, mark your calendar for the specific December 14–15, 2024, dates.

Steps to Stream for Free on December 14-15:

1. Access Apple TV+: You can use the Apple TV app on almost any major device, including smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony), streaming sticks (Roku, Amazon Fire TV), game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox), or through a web browser.
2. No Account Needed: During the free window, you should be able to navigate to the special and press play without logging in or providing payment information.
3. Set a Reminder: The free window is brief—only 48 hours. Missing these dates means you'll have to wait until next year or purchase a subscription.

For those who want to own a copy or watch outside the free window, the classic special is still available to purchase on DVD and Blu-ray. This is the only way to guarantee year-round viewing without a subscription.

Beyond the Classic: Other Peanuts Content on Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is the definitive hub for all things Peanuts, offering a wealth of content beyond the three main holiday specials. This topical authority on the Peanuts universe is a key reason for the platform's exclusivity.

The platform features all the classic specials, plus a growing library of new, original Peanuts content that is exclusive to the service.

Must-Watch Peanuts Specials and Series:

• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): The essential holiday classic.
• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973): The fall classic, which also has a free streaming window in November.
• It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966): The iconic Halloween special.
• Snoopy in Space: The Untold Story (2019): A documentary celebrating NASA’s use of the Peanuts characters.
• The Snoopy Show (2021–Present): A new, high-quality animated series featuring Snoopy and Woodstock.
• Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin (2024): A new original special that premiered in 2024, focusing on Franklin Armstrong and his friendship with Charlie Brown.
• Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie (2023): A special focusing on the quiet, bookish Marcie.
• Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne (2021): A New Year's Eve special.

The exclusivity of both the classic and new content solidifies Apple TV+ as the single destination for Peanuts fans, making the brief free streaming window for the Christmas special a major event for those who haven't subscribed. Don't let the new viewing rules dampen your holiday spirit; simply plan ahead for the December 14–15 free weekend to enjoy the timeless message of the true meaning of Christmas.