The holidays just don’t feel complete without watching the Peanuts gang try to discover the true meaning of Christmas in the beloved classic TV special ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas.’ First airing in 1965, families have gathered around the television every year since to watch Charlie Brown direct a holiday play, bring home a sad, little Christmas tree, and ultimately learn that the holiday season is about much more than glitz and commercialism.

This year, viewers will have to change their usual viewing traditions for this nostalgic special. After being acquired by Apple TV+ earlier this year, ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ will no longer air on broadcast television nor be available on most rental platforms. The special is now exclusive to Apple TV+ subscribers.

While devoted fans will miss the simplicity of just switching on their TVs, access through the streaming service opens the special up to new audiences. The platform also offers viewers the ability to stream ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ at any time instead of having to catch the limited airings around the holidays.

What to Know About Apple TV+ Access

Since Apple TV+ snatched up the rights, the only place viewers can watch the classic special is through a subscription to their streaming platform. Apple TV+ subscriptions start at $6.99 per month after a seven-day free trial. In comparison, this makes it one of the most affordable major streaming services available.

Along with access to ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ whenever they want, a subscription also gives viewers the entire Peanuts catalog along with other family-friendly Christmas titles like ‘Frosty the Snowman.’

The Charles M. Schulz has called the special “one of the longest-running animated holiday classics of all time.” This change of access to such a legendary program has been met with mixed reactions from fans who have specific nostalgia for watching ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ on network TV. However, this shift also opens up the special to new generations that may prefer to do their viewing through streaming platforms.

Get Into the Christmas Spirit Peanuts Style

Whether you access it through broadcast television or streaming, the story of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ seeks to remind audiences that the holidays are not just about excessive spending and dazzling decorations. In the special, Charlie Brown’s friends try to cheer him up and get him into the Christmas spirit by entering a decoration contest, performing a dance routine and more. But Charlie Brown still finds himself feeling depressed about the commercialization of the season.

It’s only when he brings home a small, fragile Christmas tree that he begins to understand there’s more to the holidays. His friends ultimately rally around him and the tree he chose, realizing that celebrating Christmas is more about togetherness and hope than glitz and fanfare.

Over 50 years later, the Peanuts gang still attempts to answer one of life’s ultimate questions, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” Accessing this touching special is easier than ever for nostalgic fans and a new generation alike thanks to this transition to streaming on Apple TV+.