If you grew up in the '80s or '90s, Thanksgiving meant three things: turkey, a football game on the radio, and the Peanuts gang on your TV screen. You probably remember the exact fuzzy warmth of those hand-drawn lines. But things changed. Honestly, it’s kinda weird how a holiday staple just vanished from broadcast television. If you've been clicking through your remote trying to find charlie brown thanksgiving where to watch, you’ve likely realized that the old days of CBS and ABC airings are over.
The rights landscape is a mess. Basically, Apple stepped in and changed the game for everyone. This isn’t just about a cartoon; it’s about how we consume our nostalgia in an era of fragmented streaming services.
The Only Place to Stream It
Right now, the short answer is Apple TV+. Since 2020, Apple has held the exclusive rights to the Peanuts catalog. This includes the "Big Three": It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and our turkey-day favorite, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.
If you already pay for Apple TV+, you can watch it any day of the year. It’s sitting there in 4K, looking crisper than it ever did on a 1970s tube TV. But what if you don't want another monthly bill?
The "Free" Window Strategy
Apple usually plays nice for a couple of days. Every year, they offer a "free window" where you don't need a paid subscription to watch. You just need an Apple ID.
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- The Date: Usually falls on the weekend before Thanksgiving.
- The Requirement: You must have the Apple TV app on a smart TV, Roku, Fire Stick, or phone.
- The Catch: If you miss that 48-hour window, the paywall goes back up.
For 2025, the free window was November 15–16. For 2026, you should look for the free dates to land around November 14–15. Mark your calendar. It’s the only way to see Snoopy serve toast and popcorn for free without a subscription.
Is It Ever Coming Back to Regular TV?
Probably not.
In 2020 and 2021, there was a brief "truce" where Apple allowed PBS to broadcast the specials. It felt like a win for public access. People loved it. Then, 2022 rolled around, and the deal wasn't renewed. Since then, it’s been total radio silence on the broadcast front. Apple extended their exclusive deal through 2030. That means for at least the next few years, you won't find Charlie Brown on ABC, CBS, or even PBS.
It’s strictly a digital affair now.
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The Physical Media Loophole
Kinda funny, but the best way to beat the streaming wars is to go back to 2005. I’m talking about DVDs and Blu-rays.
If you own the disc, you own the holiday. No one can take it away because a contract changed in a boardroom in Cupertino. You can find the Peanuts Holiday Collection at most retailers like Amazon or Walmart for about $25 to $35. It usually includes:
- The Thanksgiving special.
- The Christmas special.
- The Halloween special.
- A few "bonus" shorts like The Mayflower Voyagers.
Honestly, buying the Blu-ray is cheaper than paying for three months of a streaming service you might only use once a year. Plus, you get the bonus of The Mayflower Voyagers, which is a surprisingly deep look at the actual history of the holiday, Peanuts-style.
Why This Special Still Matters (Popcorn and All)
There’s a reason we’re all searching for charlie brown thanksgiving where to watch fifty years after it debuted in 1973. It’s not just the jazz soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi—though that "Linus and Lucy" theme is iconic. It’s the vibe.
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The special centers on Peppermint Patty inviting herself over to Charlie Brown’s house. He can’t cook. He’s supposed to be at his grandmother's. So Snoopy and Linus step in to "help" by making a meal of toast, popcorn, pretzel sticks, and jelly beans.
It’s a chaotic mess. It’s basically every adult's actual Thanksgiving experience, hidden inside a kid's cartoon.
There’s also that famous scene at the end with Franklin. For years, fans have pointed out how he’s sitting alone on one side of the table. It’s a moment that has sparked a lot of modern discussion about the era it was made in. Interestingly, Apple recently released a new special called Welcome Home, Franklin to give that character the backstory and seat at the table he always deserved.
Quick Checklist for Your Viewing Party
Don't wait until 4:00 PM on Thursday to figure this out. The turkey will be dry and the kids will be screaming.
- Check your subscriptions. Do you have a new iPhone or Mac? You might have a free 3-month trial of Apple TV+ sitting in your settings.
- Update your apps. If you’re using an old Roku, make sure the Apple TV app is actually installed and logged in.
- Look at your local library. Most libraries have the Peanuts DVDs. You can "check it out" for free, provided someone didn't beat you to it three weeks ago.
- Digital Purchase. You can actually buy the special on platforms like Vudu or Amazon occasionally, though Apple’s exclusivity sometimes makes these "buy" options disappear during the holidays.
The world of streaming is confusing. It used to be simple—turn on the TV, find the channel, watch the show. Now, you need a login, an app, and a specific weekend window. But for a 25-minute masterpiece about a round-headed kid and a dog who cooks toast, it’s usually worth the extra clicks.
Your next move: Check your Apple TV app right now to see if you have an active trial. If not, hop on eBay or Amazon and grab the 40th Anniversary DVD. It’s the only way to guarantee your Thanksgiving tradition stays alive without worrying about which tech giant owns the rights this year.