“Sesame Street,” the beloved children’s show, has successfully secured a new home amidst ongoing financial challenges. Netflix announced that it will premiere the show’s 56th season on its platform, along with 90 hours of classic episodes. The new season will arrive in three batches, although a specific premiere date has yet to be confirmed. Notably, “Sesame Street” will also continue to air on PBS stations, allowing new episodes to be available for free to public television audiences for the first time in a decade, eliminating the previous delay in airing.
This significant announcement follows a challenging search for a new streaming partner after Max discontinued its decade-long partnership with Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind the show. This shift contributed to financial instability, leading to staff layoffs as Sesame Workshop worked to finalize a streaming deal while grappling with reduced federal funding.
While the financial details of the Netflix deal remain unclear, experts predict it may generate lower revenue than the past agreements with HBO and Max, but with the potential to attract a wider audience. With more than 300 million subscribers, Netflix also provides various children’s programming, which could help draw in families with young viewers.
The landscape for children’s entertainment has become more competitive since “Sesame Street” debuted in 1969, but the show has retained its cherished status in American culture, loved by both children and adults alike. Unlike in previous years when PBS delayed airing episodes, the new agreement allows simultaneous availability across both platforms. Funding from PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will also support this transition, although specifics on the amount have not been disclosed.
In a strategic shift, “Sesame Street” has revised its approach to storytelling. While initially planning a format with two 11-minute narratives, the new episodes will primarily consist of one 11-minute story, alongside a new animated feature and beloved segments like “Elmo’s World.”
Sherrie Rollins Westin, the president and CEO of Sesame Workshop, emphasized that this collaboration with Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting exemplifies a strong public-private partnership aimed at delivering valuable educational content to children worldwide.
This timely transition presents a hopeful opportunity for the show’s future, ensuring that the educational legacy of “Sesame Street” can continue, reaching both new audiences and longtime fans.