Fans of the iconic children's show, Sesame Street, can breathe a sigh of relief as the beloved series, which has been captivating audiences since 1969, will continue to enchant viewers through new streaming platforms. After HBO and Max decided not to renew their long-standing partnership at the end of 2024, Sesame Street has secured a fresh deal to bring its content to Netflix and PBS.
Starting soon, viewers around the globe can stream new episodes of Sesame Street on Netflix, alongside a comprehensive catalog of past episodes. In the US, new episodes will also be available on the same day they air on PBS stations and the PBS Kids platform, maintaining the show's cherished 50+ year relationship with PBS. This exciting move was announced by Sesame Street via their social media channels on May 19, emphasizing the unique public-private partnership with Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This collaboration aims to help children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.
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.
— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) May 19, 2025
The support of… pic.twitter.com/B76MxQzrpI
In a strategic shift for Season 56, Sesame Street will introduce structural changes to its format. Each episode will now feature an 11-minute story, drawing inspiration from successful character-driven children's shows like Bluey. While embracing this new approach, the show will also bring back beloved segments such as Elmo's World and Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck, ensuring a mix of innovation and nostalgia for its audience.
Sesame Street first aired in November 1969 and joined the PBS network in the 1970s, quickly becoming a cultural touchstone. In 2015, HBO and Max entered the scene with a $35 million deal to produce new episodes. However, as HBO and Max refocused their content strategy away from children's programming by late 2024, citing less engagement from subscribers, they chose not to renew their partnership. Despite this, the Sesame Street library will remain accessible on HBO and Max until 2027, albeit without new episode production.
In a related development, Netflix's burgeoning gaming arm will also benefit from this new deal, allowing the platform to create video games based on Sesame Street and its spinoff, Sesame Street Mecha Builders. This move aligns with Netflix's broader efforts to expand its gaming offerings, enabling subscribers to play games directly through the app using their mobile devices as controllers.
