ABC Inks Deal To Keep ‘Peanuts’ Specials Until 2020

ABC Inks Deal To Keep ‘Peanuts’ Specials Until 2020

There’s going to be more Charlie Brown on ABC for the next few years. The network announced today that its finalized an an additional 5-year agreement with Peanuts Worldwide LLC and Lee Mendelson Film Productions to continue showing the Charles M. Schulz holiday specials until 2020. First aired in 1965, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas have been on ABC since D ecember 2001. The Emmy Award-winning specials by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz are produced and animated by Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez. No details of the agreement were made available. However, even while down from last year this year, the specials certainly have been a return on investment for the network. Airing on December 3, this year’s A Charlie Brown Christmas was down 34% from its November 28 airing in 2012 but still beat Fox’s new Almost Human among Adults 18-49. Last year’s Peanuts Christmas special actually topped the Adults 18-49 demo in the 8PM-9:30PM time slot beating out The X-Factor, Survivor and NBC’s Christmas at Rockefeller Center.

Related: Paul Feig Lands Animated ‘Peanuts’ Fox Pic

Deadline.com