Ancil
Netflix has saved “Sesame Street” with a new streaming deal that gives the famous kids’ show a wider audience while keeping it on PBS, where it has been for a long time, the companies announced on Monday.
Starting later this year, new episodes will run on Netflix, PBS and the PBS Kids app on the same day. No exact date for the premiere was given right away. Some old episodes will be available on Netflix all over the world.
The more than 50-year-old show is changing because Warner Bros. Discovery, which had been airing it since 2016, chose not to renew its deal for new episodes that air on HBO and Max last year. However, episodes will still be on those networks until 2027.
“This unique public-private partnership will enable us to bring our research-based curriculum to young children around the world with Netflix’s global reach, while ensuring children in communities across the U.S. continue to have free access on public television to the ‘Sesame Street’ they love,” Sesame Workshop said in its press release.
Recently, Sal Perez, the show’s executive producer and a vice president at Sesame Workshop, told The Associated Press that segments in the new season will be longer and “really focused on character.” The show will also focus on the emotional health and growth of its viewers.
The Netflix release said that each show in Season 56 will be based on a different 11-minute story.
“The more kids want to hang out with our characters on ‘Sesame Street,’ the more they’re going to take in those lessons,” said Perez, adding that there would also be updates to the show’s look and feel. The new season will also show more of the “Sesame Street” neighborhood and inside the famous two-story building at 123 Sesame Street, which is home to Elmo, Bert, Ernie, and other characters.
Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS, said, “I strongly believe that our educational programming for children is one of the most important parts of our service to the American people, and ‘Sesame Street’ has been an important part of that important work for more than fifty years.” “We’re excited to keep working together to make a big difference in the lives of children for years to come.”
“Sesame Street” has been shown in more than 150 countries, amassing more than 200 Emmys in addition to Grammy and Peabody awards and a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime artistic achievement. Fans’ favorite characters, like Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, and the Cookie Monster, will now live with Ms. Rachel, Blippi, and the people who live on “CoComelon Lane.” Netflix says that “Kids and Family” shows make up 15% of all the shows that people watch.
