"Netflix Secures Sesame Street Episodes Post-HBO Max Deal"

The journey to Sesame Street continues, much to the delight of fans everywhere. Since its inception in 1969, the beloved children's television series will now find a new home on Netflix and PBS following the conclusion of its long-standing agreement with HBO and Max at the end of 2024.

New episodes of the iconic show will be available to stream on Netflix globally, alongside a comprehensive library of past episodes. Additionally, new episodes will be accessible on their release day via PBS stations and the PBS Kids platform in the US. This move not only preserves Sesame Street's over 50-year relationship with PBS but also aligns with Netflix's efforts to expand its gaming division. Subscribers will soon be able to enjoy games directly through the Netflix app, using their mobile devices as controllers. This new partnership will enable Netflix to develop video games based on Sesame Street and its spinoff, Sesame Street Mecha Builders.

The announcement of this exciting development came via Sesame Street's social media channels on May 19. "The support of Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting serve as a unique public-private partnership to enable Sesame Street to continue to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder," stated a post from the Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the series.

We are excited to announce that all new Sesame Street episodes are coming to @netflix worldwide along with library episodes, and new episodes will also release the same day on @PBS Stations and @PBSKIDS platforms in the US, preserving a 50+ year relationship.

The support of… pic.twitter.com/B76MxQzrpI

Season 56 will bring some structural changes to the show, introducing an 11-minute story segment per episode. This format shift takes inspiration from other character-driven children's programs like Bluey. However, fans can still look forward to the return of beloved segments such as Elmo's World and Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck.

Sesame Street first aired in November 1969 and joined the PBS network in the 1970s, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon. In 2015, HBO and Max entered the scene with a $35 million deal to produce new episodes. However, this partnership concluded at the end of 2024 as the streaming platforms shifted focus away from children's programming, citing a lack of subscriber interest. Despite this, the Sesame Street library will remain available on HBO and Max until 2027, extending the original 10-year agreement, albeit without the production component.