A Charlie Brown Christmas: Where to Watch, History & Guide

Few holiday specials have captured both the melancholy and joy of the season like A Charlie Brown Christmas. In 2025, finding where to watch it requires navigation, but free options exist.

First aired: December 9, 1965 ·
Duration: 25 minutes ·
Awards: Peabody Award, Primetime Emmy ·
Original network: CBS ·
Current streaming: Apple TV+ ·
Free broadcast: PBS (over-the-air)

Key details about the special appear in the table below.

Where can I watch the original Charlie Brown Christmas?

Streaming on Apple TV+

Apple TV+ holds the exclusive streaming rights for A Charlie Brown Christmas. The special is available in full, uncut, with a subscription of $12.99 per month (The News & Observer). New subscribers can take advantage of a 7-day free trial to watch it (Apple TV (official source)). Apple also offers a limited free streaming window for everyone — no subscription required — on December 13 and 14, 2025 (AppleInsider).

Digital purchase options

If you prefer to own a digital copy, the special is available for purchase or rental on major platforms. You can buy it on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and iTunes (Apple TV app). Prices typically range from $3.99 (rental) to $14.99 (purchase in HD). These are independent of any subscription.

Physical media availability

DVD and Blu-ray editions of A Charlie Brown Christmas are widely available from retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Special editions often include bonus features like behind-the-scenes footage. Public libraries also carry copies for free borrowing. The physical release has been in circulation since the early 1990s, starting with VHS.

Will A Charlie Brown Christmas be televised this year?

Network broadcast schedule

Yes — the special airs annually on PBS, usually in December. The exact date varies by local PBS station, so you’ll want to check your local listings closer to the holiday. An over-the-air antenna can pick up PBS for free without a cable subscription (The News & Observer).

Annual airing on PBS after Apple deal

Until 2018, the special aired on ABC. But in 2020, Apple acquired exclusive streaming rights, and PBS simultaneously secured free broadcast rights as part of the deal (The News & Observer). This arrangement ensures the special remains accessible to households without internet streaming.

Check local listings

Consult your local PBS affiliate’s schedule or use an online TV guide. Many stations will air it in prime time during the second or third week of December.

The catch: unless your PBS station streams online, you’ll need a TV or antenna to watch the broadcast. No cable subscription is required.

The implication: viewers who can’t rely on streaming must plan ahead and know their local PBS schedule to avoid missing the only free airing of the year.

Is Charlie Brown Christmas on Netflix or Amazon?

Netflix availability

No — A Charlie Brown Christmas is not available on Netflix as of 2025. The streaming rights are held exclusively by Apple TV+ through at least 2030, according to industry reports (AppleInsider).

Amazon Prime Video options

Amazon Prime Video does not include the special in its Prime subscription. However, you can rent or buy the digital version through Amazon’s video store — no Prime membership required for a la carte purchases. The rental price is typically $3.99 and the purchase price around $14.99.

Comparison with other platforms

Let’s compare the main options side by side.

The trade-off: Apple TV+ gives you unlimited replays but requires a subscription (or timing the free window). PBS gives you one free airing per year. Physical media is a buy-once option but requires a player. For most viewers, the PBS broadcast or Apple’s free weekend offer the best value.

How to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas free on TV and online

1. Watch on PBS over-the-air: Use an antenna to catch the annual free broadcast (check local schedule).
2. Try Apple TV+ free trial: New subscribers get 7 days free; sign up during the holiday week.
3. Mark the free streaming window: Apple opens access to all users without subscription on December 13–14, 2025.
4. Borrow from a library: Many public libraries lend DVD copies for free with a library card.

Free TV broadcast options

PBS airs the special for free annually. No cable needed — a basic over-the-air antenna can pick up your local PBS station. Check your local schedule for exact dates in December 2025. The broadcast is uncut and includes all original content.

Free trials on streaming services

Apple TV+ offers a 7-day free trial to new subscribers. Start the trial during the holiday week and you can watch A Charlie Brown Christmas plus other Peanuts specials for free. Cancel anytime before the trial ends. Apple also opens a free streaming window for all users (no subscription needed) on December 13–14, 2025 (AppleInsider).

Library borrow options

Many local public libraries carry DVD copies of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Borrowing is free with a library card. It’s a great backup if you miss the TV broadcast or the streaming window.

The pattern: the free options are time-sensitive, so viewers need to plan ahead and choose the method that fits their setup.

When was the original 1965 airing of A Charlie Brown Christmas?

First broadcast details

The special premiered on December 9, 1965 on CBS, sponsored by Coca-Cola (Apple TV (original broadcast info)). It was an instant ratings success, drawing an estimated 15 million households.

Production background

Charles M. Schulz wrote the script, and Bill Melendez directed the animation. Producer Lee Mendelson later recalled that CBS executives worried the special was too slow and too religious — they particularly questioned the scene where Linus recites the Gospel of Luke. Schulz insisted on keeping it, and that scene became the emotional centerpiece of the show. (Lee Mendelson, producer, in archival interviews.)

Cultural impact over decades

The special won both a Peabody Award and a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program. Its jazzy Vince Guaraldi soundtrack — especially the track “Christmas Time Is Here” — has become a seasonal staple. For decades, the special aired annually on CBS, then ABC, and now finds its home on Apple TV+ and PBS (The News & Observer).

Timeline: The journey of A Charlie Brown Christmas

• December 9, 1965: World premiere on CBS, sponsored by Coca-Cola (Apple TV).
• 1970s–1990s: Annual reruns on CBS, becoming a holiday tradition.
• 1993: Released on VHS and later DVD.
• 2001: Broadcast moves from CBS to ABC.
• 2018: ABC broadcast ends; streaming rights acquired by Apple (The News & Observer).
• 2020: Apple TV+ becomes exclusive streaming home; PBS secures annual broadcast rights (The News & Observer).
• 2025: Still available on Apple TV+ and PBS; not on Netflix or Amazon Prime (except purchase) (AppleInsider).

What this means: the special’s broadcast history reflects the shift from network TV to streaming, yet its annual PBS airing preserves a free, traditional viewing option.

What we know — and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• A Charlie Brown Christmas premiered on December 9, 1965 on CBS (Apple TV listing).
• Apple TV+ holds exclusive streaming rights as of 2025 (AppleInsider).
• PBS airs the special for free annually (The News & Observer).
• Not available on Netflix or Disney+.
• Runtime is exactly 25 minutes (Apple TV listing).

What’s unclear

• Exact PBS broadcast date for 2025 (typically December, but specific day varies by station).
• Whether future streaming rights will remain exclusively with Apple after the current deal ends.
• Whether the free PBS broadcast will continue annually beyond 2025.
• Whether Apple will offer additional free streaming windows beyond December 13–14, 2025.
• Whether the special will ever appear on other streaming platforms like Netflix or Disney+.

The implication: families with limited internet access still have the PBS broadcast, but its single annual airing demands careful scheduling.

What the creators said

“All I want to know is, is there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” — Charlie Brown

Charles M. Schulz, script

Linus recites Luke 2:8-14: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night…”

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

“The network thought it was too slow, too religious, and that it wouldn’t hold the audience. They were wrong.” — Lee Mendelson, producer (archival interview)

The pattern: the creators’ conviction in the special’s emotional core overcame network skepticism, ensuring its place in holiday television history.

Summary: What this means for viewers

For anyone wanting to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas in 2025, the choices boil down to three: stream it on Apple TV+ (with a free trial or during the December 13–14 free window), catch the PBS broadcast (free over the air), or buy a digital copy. The easiest free route is the PBS broadcast — no subscription, no internet needed. For families who prefer on-demand viewing, the Apple TV+ free weekend is the best one-shot opportunity. The implication for families without a streaming subscription: the PBS broadcast (free over-the-air) remains the most accessible option, but you’ll need to check your local schedule — or risk missing the only free airing of the year.

For those curious about the special’s most iconic prop, our guide to the Charlie Brown Christmas tree history offers a deeper look at its meaning.

Frequently asked questions