I've noticed that since last year, maybe earlier, ABC does not promote their annual airings of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" anymore, though they still air it every year. First they air it edited (they even cut the football gag) so they could air their more popular "Toy Story of Terror" right afterward (which always manages to pull in better ratings than "The Great Pumpkin.") Then they air it again later in the month unedited (and paired with "You're Not Elected Charlie Brown"), but unannounced and not promoted at all, and is usually just used as filler material on a night when they don't have anything new to air planned in the 8 to 9 PM time slot, often when a bigger ratings-grabber is on a rival network.
Last year, the ratings for "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" saw a significant drop, especially the uncut re-airing later in the month, largely due to ABC's lack of promotion (UClick and DHX will promote it themselves online, but that's it.) I imagine the other Peanuts specials performed equally as poorly in the ratings, except maybe for one of the "Charlie Brown Christmas" airings.
I'm pretty sure ABC is showing less and less interest in the Peanuts, especially since DHX Media now co-owns the franchise with Charles Schulz Creative Associates, and since Disney owns ABC and Pixar, they favor those specials over the Peanuts classics. ABC's contract to air the Peanuts specials expires in 2020, and I can see ABC not renewing the contract when that happens. But I doubt the specials will disappear from the airwaves; chances are another network will pick them up. It wouldn't be the first time, as the Peanuts specials originally ran on CBS prior to 2001. The Peanuts specials could possibly go back to CBS, but I kind of doubt it. Or they could air on FOX, especially since the newest specials actually have aired on FOX (like "Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown.")
Any thoughts?
(I just watch the Great Pumpkin special on DVD myself.)
Last year, the ratings for "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" saw a significant drop, especially the uncut re-airing later in the month, largely due to ABC's lack of promotion (UClick and DHX will promote it themselves online, but that's it.) I imagine the other Peanuts specials performed equally as poorly in the ratings, except maybe for one of the "Charlie Brown Christmas" airings.
I'm pretty sure ABC is showing less and less interest in the Peanuts, especially since DHX Media now co-owns the franchise with Charles Schulz Creative Associates, and since Disney owns ABC and Pixar, they favor those specials over the Peanuts classics. ABC's contract to air the Peanuts specials expires in 2020, and I can see ABC not renewing the contract when that happens. But I doubt the specials will disappear from the airwaves; chances are another network will pick them up. It wouldn't be the first time, as the Peanuts specials originally ran on CBS prior to 2001. The Peanuts specials could possibly go back to CBS, but I kind of doubt it. Or they could air on FOX, especially since the newest specials actually have aired on FOX (like "Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown.")
Any thoughts?
(I just watch the Great Pumpkin special on DVD myself.)