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The Definitive 2025 Guide: 3 Ways To Watch 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving' (Including For FREE)

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Are you rushing to find out where to watch the beloved holiday classic, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, this year? As of today, December 21, 2025, the viewing landscape for the Peanuts specials remains exclusive, but there is a crucial, time-sensitive way for everyone to enjoy the iconic 1973 animated special without a subscription. The short answer is that the special is now the permanent, exclusive home of Apple TV+, but you must know the specific dates to catch it for free.

The tradition of gathering around the television for Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the gang has evolved significantly since the special first aired in 1973. The era of finding it on network television like CBS or ABC is over, as the entire classic Peanuts library is now exclusively held by the tech giant. However, Apple TV+ continues its gesture of goodwill by offering a limited-time free streaming window for non-subscribers, which is the key piece of information every fan needs to know for the upcoming holiday season.

'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving' Viewing Options for the 2025 Holiday Season

The days of searching your local TV listings for an air date on a major network like ABC or CBS are long gone. The definitive answer to "where can I watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving?" is a single platform: Apple TV+. Here are the three primary methods for viewing the special this year, catering to different viewer needs and budgets.

1. The Free Viewing Window: The Essential 2025 Date

For millions of fans who do not subscribe to a streaming service, the free viewing window is the most important date on the holiday calendar. Apple TV+ generously makes the special available to everyone for a limited time, requiring only an Apple ID to watch—no paid subscription is necessary.

  • Free Streaming Dates: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will be available to stream for free from Saturday, November 15, 2025, through Sunday, November 16, 2025.
  • How to Access: Simply open the Apple TV app on any compatible device (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV box, Smart TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, gaming console, or web browser) during this 48-hour window and search for the special.

This is the only way to watch the special legally and for free in 2025. It is a critical window to remember, as missing it means you will need a paid subscription to access the content.

2. Exclusive Streaming: Apple TV+ Subscription

If you miss the free window or simply want to watch the special at your own convenience on Thanksgiving Day, a paid subscription to Apple TV+ is required. The streaming service is the exclusive home for all classic Peanuts specials, including It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas.

  • Availability: Subscribers can stream the special on-demand anytime, 24/7, throughout the entire year.
  • The Deal: Apple TV+ obtained the exclusive rights to the Peanuts catalog in 2020 and has since extended this partnership through 2030. This means that for the foreseeable future, this streaming platform is the only place to find the classic specials.

3. Digital Purchase or Rental

While the exclusive streaming deal with Apple TV+ covers the rights to broadcast and stream the special, there is often a way to own a digital copy or a physical media version, such as a DVD or Blu-ray. While this is not a "streaming" option in the traditional sense, it provides a permanent way to watch without relying on a subscription or a limited free window.

  • Digital Stores: Check major digital marketplaces like iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, or Google Play Movies for the option to purchase the special outright. This allows you to download or stream it in perpetuity, regardless of the Apple TV+ subscription status.
  • Physical Media: The special is often packaged in DVD or Blu-ray collections, such as Peanuts: Holiday Collection, which can be purchased from various retailers.

The End of a Broadcast Era: Why You Won't See it on PBS in 2025

For many years, the holiday specials from the mind of Charles M. Schulz were a staple of network television, first airing on CBS in 1973 before moving to ABC in 2001. The biggest change in the special's history occurred in 2020 when Apple TV+ acquired the exclusive rights to the entire Peanuts library.

This move initially caused an uproar among fans who were accustomed to the free, annual broadcast. In response to the public outcry, Apple TV+ struck a temporary deal with PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) that allowed the specials to air on public television for the 2020 and 2021 holiday seasons.

However, that contract was not renewed in subsequent years, and as a result, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will not air on PBS or any other traditional television network in 2025. The only way to watch for free remains the two-day free viewing window offered directly by Apple TV+ in November.

The Peanuts Legacy: More Than Just a Thanksgiving Dinner

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is more than just a cartoon; it is a cultural touchstone that has been part of the holiday fabric for over five decades. The special, which was the tenth prime-time animated special based on the Peanuts comic strip, highlights themes of friendship, inclusion, and the unconventional nature of family gatherings.

The plot centers on Charlie Brown being tricked into hosting a Thanksgiving dinner after Peppermint Patty invites herself and several others—Marcie and Franklin—to his house. With the help of his faithful beagle, Snoopy, and his little yellow bird friend, Woodstock, they manage to put together a very unique feast of toast, popcorn, pretzel sticks, and jelly beans. This scene, featuring Snoopy and Woodstock setting up their own table, remains one of the most memorable moments in animated history.

The special is a beautiful piece of nostalgia, created by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson, with the timeless characters like Linus, Sally, and Lucy van Pelt continuing to resonate with new generations. The exclusivity deal ensures the special's preservation and continued availability, even if it means viewers must now adapt to a new streaming-only tradition.

Key Peanuts Entities and LSI Keywords

  • Main Characters: Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Peppermint Patty, Linus van Pelt, Sally Brown, Marcie, Franklin
  • Other Classic Specials: A Charlie Brown Christmas, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
  • Creators: Charles M. Schulz, Bill Melendez, Lee Mendelson
  • Platforms/Networks: Apple TV+, CBS, ABC, PBS, PBS Kids
  • Related Terms: Animated special, streaming service, free viewing window, Thanksgiving Day programming, Peanuts library, 1973 classic, holiday tradition.
The Definitive 2025 Guide: 3 Ways to Watch 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving' (Including for FREE)
where can i watch charlie brown thanksgiving
where can i watch charlie brown thanksgiving

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