WASHINGTON — Throughout most of the year, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” remains accessible only via Apple TV, the subscription-based streaming platform by the tech giant known for its iPhones.

However, there is a special opportunity in December when the iconic festive film will be available for free viewing over one weekend.

Traditionally, Peanuts animated specials aired on network television during the holiday season. Yet, this marks the fourth consecutive year that access to the Christmas special requires an Apple TV+ subscription. The streaming service secured exclusive rights to the Charlie Brown and Peanuts holiday specials in 2020.

If you already have an Apple TV subscription, you can watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and other Peanuts specials at any point. But if you don’t have one, the tech giant is offering “special streaming windows” on Saturday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 14 for non-subscribers to watch without an account. 

All you’ll need to do to watch is go to tv.apple.com or download the Apple TV app. There, you can search for “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and hit play to stream for free. 

If you want to watch again after the weekend, Apple offers a seven-day free trial that you can sign up for.

Apple did the same thing last year, and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” were briefly available for free in October and November, respectively. 

The Peanuts specials used to air on network TV every year around the holidays. But in 2020,  the Apple TV streaming service became its new home. Earlier this year, it was announced that the partnership has been extended until 2030. 

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the beloved Christmas special. 

The 30-minute animated film debuted on CBS in December 1965.  It was the first of many holiday specials that featured the characters from Charles M. Schulz’s “Peanuts” comic strip.