In a significant development for children’s educational programming, “Sesame Street” has secured a new distribution deal with Netflix, following the conclusion of its previous arrangement with Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max platform.
This new partnership ensures that the beloved series will continue to reach audiences worldwide, with Season 56 set to premiere later this year. Importantly, the agreement also restores simultaneous airing of new episodes on PBS stations and PBS Kids digital platforms, reinstating immediate free access for U.S. viewers—a feature absent during the Max era.
The transition to Netflix comes after financial challenges for Sesame Workshop, including staff reductions and funding uncertainties. Under the new deal, Netflix will host 90 hours of past episodes and introduce a refreshed format featuring 11-minute narrative segments, alongside popular segments like “Elmo’s World.”
This collaboration between Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting exemplifies a public-private partnership aimed at preserving and expanding access to quality educational content for children.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/sesame-street-netflix-deal-pbs-1236221230
