How ABC’s Loss of Charlie Brown’s ‘Great Pumpkin’ Could Mean a Bummer Halloween

Apple TV+ is pulling the football from millions of traditional television viewers hoping to watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” on broadcast, and at least a few hundred thousand of them are so unhappy about it they’ve launched a Change.org petition over the move. Former rights holder ABC is also missing out due to the recently expanded Apple TV+ deal for the catalog of specials based on Charles M. Schulz’ “Peanuts” cartoon — including classics like “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” The specials were good for a few million viewers apiece, annually — that adds up. Also Read: Apple TV+ Renews 'Snoopy in Space' for Season 2, Will Produce New Peanuts Shows and Holiday Specials Counting seven days of delayed viewing, ABC’s Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 airing of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” tallied 6.3 million total viewers — a “treat” in the current TV landscape. A second airing on Sunday, Oct. 27 had 3.9 million — that one would turn out to be ABC’s last. Of course, Halloween is just the beginning of Peanuts season. ABC’s airing of “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019...

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