Apple pulls the Charlie Brown football away from American kids

Good grief! The Great Pumpkin may skip your house this year, as all the classic “Peanuts” holiday specials have been pulled from broadcast TV for the first time since 1965.

Online streaming platform AppleTV+ bought exclusive rights to air the classics, after decades when they ran on CBS and then ABC. So if you don’t have decent Internet at home, you’re completely out of luck.

Apple is giving those with the right online connections a free shot: It will let viewers see each show free of charge for two days: “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” from Nov. 25 to 27 and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” from Dec. 11 to 13.

That still leaves lots of low-income children deprived, including many stuck in homeless shelters. Sure feels like Apple is playing Lucy — pulling the football away from poor Charlie Brown.

Maybe the tech giant can come up with a better solution. The holidays just wouldn’t be the same without Vince Guaraldi’s tinkling piano tunes and the gang all pitching in to cheer up Charlie.

Everyone can use a little spiritual lift this winter.

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