Re: [NEWS] New & classic "Peanuts" animated shows stream exclusively on Apple TV+

From AppleInsider.com ...


    How to watch 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' for free
    =============================================================
    After decades of regular airings, it appears that "It's the
    Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" won't be on broadcast
    television - but this and every "Charlie Brown" annual
    viewing tradition can continue. Here's how just about anybody
    can watch, for free, using Apple TV+ and a browser.

    Apple's recent deal to stream new and classic Charlie Brown
    shows has had one casualty. For the first time in generations,
    "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" will not air on US
    broadcast television. It will certainly, though, be available
    for free on Apple TV+ and you won't even have to install an
    app to see it.

    Made by CBS in 1966, it has become less a TV show and more a
    tradition as it's been screened at least once around Halloween
    for the last 54 years. Now those TV network rights have lapsed
    and the show has been caught up in Apple's overall Charlie
    Brown deal.

    However, while the deal means that the show won't be on
    broadcast television, Apple has confirmed that it will be
    available for free - for a limited time.


    When you can watch
    ------------------
    Apple is not making all of the "Charlie Brown" specials and
    series available at once. Instead, it's introducing them over
    the next few months and it's doing each one in two steps.

    First all paying Apple TV+ subscribers will be able to see
    them from a certain date. Then, second, they will be made free
    for a limited time.

    So "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," has already
    arrived on Apple TV+ - it began streaming on October 19 - but
    it will be free to watch from October 30 to November 1.

    Similarly, "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" is due to arrive for
    Apple TV+ subscribers during November. It will be freely
    streamed from November 25 to November 27.

    The most famous "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is coming to
    Apple TV+ on December 4. According to Vulture, Apple has
    indicated that the show will stream for free from December 11
    to December 13, though this has not yet been confirmed.


    Where to watch "Charle Brown" on Apple TV+
    ------------------------------------------
    You can watch these and any other available Apple TV+ shows and
    series through four different routes. This includes the official
    Apple apps, such as that on the iPhone.

    However, there is there is also the Apple TV set-top box, and
    then there are selected smart TVs.

    But, nearly any user on any platform can watch online via any
    modern browser. Browser streaming may be the most convenient for
    people who solely want to catch these specials, and don't have
    an Apple device.


    How to watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" on Apple TV+
    without a subscription
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    1.  In any modern web browser, go to tv.apple.com
    2.  Find the show and press Play
    3.  Either watch it on your computer, or stream it to a
        television of your choice

    Alternatively, while Apple is promoting the show, you can also go
    directly to its page online.

    You can also stream from the iPhone, or iPad version of the
    Apple TV app. Plus you can watch on those apps on iPhone, iPad,
    Mac and Apple TV.

    Through the official app, the show will be presented with just a
    regular Play button, and you won't be pressed into subscribing
    Apple TV+. At least, not quite as much as usual.


    What this means for Apple
    -------------------------
    Viewers have been used to watching these "Charlie Brown" specials
    for free on network television for the last couple of generations.
    The fact that they will be free on Apple TV+ is better than Apple
    demanding payment for what's seen as part of the fabric of
    American holidays.

    However, it's still not a great look for Apple. We don't know,
    and may never find out, what happened here. Certainly the rights
    period for "Charlie Brown" were expiring. Maybe Apple swooped in
    and outbid ABC, or maybe ABC made its own decision not to renew.

    The odds are, though, that ABC will be seen as the victim. Apple
    will not be seen as the savior of this holiday tradition.
    Similarly, we can't tell whether Apple's decision to offer free
    streaming is their own largess, or a contractual requirement from
    the rights owners.

    What we can know is Apple is not helping itself with how
    preposterously hard it is to find a given show on the service.
    Online and on all the Apple TV+ apps, specific shows are either
    promoted prominently or buried away.

    On the tv.apple.com website, though, it's worse. If you go to
    that site, you can watch any Apple TV+ show that is free - or
    any show at all if you're already a subscriber - but there
    isn't even a search feature.

    Instead, you get presented with a long list of Apple TV+ shows
    and mostly all that links them is that they're the ones Apple
    has decided to promote. If you are a subscriber then you may
    also see whatever you've last been watching on the app.

    Doubtlessly each "Charlie Brown" show will be promoted there
    during its free period, just as is currently happening with the
    Halloween special. But if Apple wants this to lead to people
    exploring more and signing up, it needs to make finding your
    way around a lot easier.

    ABC viewers are not going to be in a good mood when they come to
    Apple TV+, so Apple really should not frustrate them when they
    get there.


<https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/10/21/how-to-watch-its-the-great-pumpkin-charlie-brown-for-free>