'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' Not Airing on TV This Year and Fans Are Incensed
Fans were horrified to learn that the Peanuts Halloween special, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie [...]
Why Not Both?
So mad. why must they keep messing with those with cable still. Not everyone wants or has streaming. I hope other shows/specials (non charlie that is) dont do the same. Why can't it be on both?
— Gina (@bookgirl8807) October 20, 2020
Many cable users were put off by this development because it felt like major pressure to change from their familiar platform to an all-streaming media diet. They asked why old favorites like the Charlie Brown specials couldn't co-exist on more than one platform at once.
prevnextHistory of Change
I was still getting used to them moving from CBS to ABC 20 years ago so I'll probably never get used to this https://t.co/ve2vnohhPY
— Ted Nesi (@TedNesi) October 20, 2020
most interesting thing about a lot of these posts, fans think not airing on ABC is "breaking tradition"... they don't seem to realize that it aired on CBS until 2000; um, 20 years is not necessarily a long-standing "tradition".
— Craig Herman (@craigphilly1) October 19, 2020
This is not the first time the Peanuts have switched platforms, as some users pointed out. However, given the ripple effects of simple network changes, some predicted that a jump to streaming might simply take the specials off their radar altogether.
prevnext'For the People'
Everyone should be upset about this and refuse to stream it on AppleTV+ until the specials are given back to the people. Not everything should be a platform exclusive
— 「David.」 (@ddupreejr) October 20, 2020
Considering the age and legacy of the Peanuts franchise, many fans thought it was simply greedy for them to be used to generate profit at this point. By some standards, Peanuts could have entered the public domain by now, and using 50+ year old cartoons to drive subscribers to a new platform was a bad look in that context.
prevnextPiracy
thats nice?
— Montork (@Montork1) October 20, 2020
i lit dont care?
that means i have to watch them on phone, tablet or on my old pc instead of downstairs on tv with my fucking family.
SURPRIZE!
AT THAT POINT IF IM ON A COMPUTER TO DO IT I MIGHT AS WELL PIRATE IT???
LIKE
wholly fuck this sucks
Hearing that the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown will not be aired on anything but Apple TV makes my heart super sad. I am glad I have it on dvd. Kids will miss out on one of the greatest Halloween specials ever.
— Marcus Allen, M Ed. (@MarcusA29532311) October 19, 2020
Its unhealthy deals like these are the reason why people pirate media in general https://t.co/yPRFDV8nsl
— SucyRolls (@RollsSucy) October 20, 2020
For many users, moving from cable to streaming meant a move from the TV to the computer, which takes the Peanuts experience from a family setting to a personal one. Some even went so far as to say they "might as well pirate" the specials if they're going that route. Others said they would rather own the specials on DVD so as not to live by the whims of streaming corporations.
prevnextFree
It’s poorly worded but I believe it is free for everyone in that three day window. I would still rather be on network TV but you don’t need to be an Apple TV subscriber to watch it for those 3 days. Apple TV subscribers can watch it now. I’m still upset but no longer furious.
— Sarah (@SarahMaybeNot) October 19, 2020
Many users tried to reassure each other by pointing out that Apple TV+ will show these specials for free at certain points during the holiday season. Still, critics argued back that the end result was still an overt attempt to draw users into another monthly bill.
prevnextWhy Just One?
Horseshit! Bazillion streaming services and it's narrowed down to 1. To be expected in 2020. But, suck it @Apple https://t.co/mvGRBgqHwy
— Giiiiinnnaaa (@Gina01Rose) October 20, 2020
Some also expressed concern about why just one streaming service got to host Charlie Brown, instead of sharing the rights to reach a wider audience. Again, this raised a conversation about "broken" intellectual property rights laws and piracy.
prevnextThe Spirit of the Season
This news is the equivalent of getting a rock in your trick-or-treat bag. #GreatPumpkin #Halloween2020 https://t.co/P3fHAkL7xs
— Kathleen Kraft (@BothWithAKay) October 20, 2020
“There are three things I've learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin." - Linus https://t.co/5vppTXgQvV
— Maria Giovannoni (@smokingpasta) October 20, 2020
Finally, many angry Peanuts fans voiced their outrage in the voices of the characters themselves, referencing the Halloween special as an argument that this platform exclusivity goes against what Linus, Charlie Brown and Snoopy stand for.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is streaming now on Apple TV+. It will be available for free from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1.
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