'A Charlie Brown Christmas' Hits 60-Year Milestone — And Remains Iconic Today
- - 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' Hits 60-Year Milestone — And Remains Iconic Today
Will SayreDecember 10, 2025 at 3:22 AM
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"Christmastime is here... / Happiness and cheer..."
So begins the iconic holiday special known as A Charlie Brown Christmas, which premiered a whopping 60 years ago — and is cherished to this day.
The Peanuts classic made its CBS debut on Dec. 9, 1965, and would go on to re-air the following December — and for decades to come.
That is, until the year 2020, when Apple acquired exclusive streaming rights to all media centered on Charlie Brown, Snoopy and company — so fans can watch A Charlie Brown Christmas on Apple TV right now (in case they're confused as to why it's not playing on cable TV).
On Oct. 1 of this year, Apple TV+ announced a five-year extension as the exclusive streaming home for all things Peanuts until 2030. The new deal includes the classic library, as well as plans for more new, original Peanuts series and specials. Apple is currently in production with WildBrain and Peanuts on a brand-new animated feature film, for example, which was announced in 2023.
“In this milestone 75th anniversary year, it feels incredibly meaningful to continue our collaboration with our brilliant partners at WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide and Lee Mendelson,” Tara Sorensen, head of children’s programming at Apple TV+, said in a statement, per the company. “Our commitment, dedication and passion for Peanuts runs deep. These beloved characters and stories hold a timeless significance, resonating with people of all ages across the globe. And we are delighted that the iconic holiday specials will be available for everyone to experience, continuing this time-honored, comforting tradition.”
As fans await the upcoming Peanuts movie, A Charlie Brown Christmas is arguably the best Charlie Brown-led special that can be enjoyed in the meantime. And there are plenty of fun tidbits surrounding the beloved holiday movie, such as the fact that most of the voice actors were actually cast from kids in director Bill Melendez‘s Southern California neighborhood. For more Peanuts holiday trivia, visit here.
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
