Sesame Street Partners with Netflix for New Episodes

NEW YORK, NY – Iconic children’s show Sesame Street will launch new episodes later this year on Netflix, PBS, and the PBS Kids app, according to a joint announcement made on Monday. This new arrangement follows Warner Bros. Discovery‘s decision last year to not renew its deal to air the show on HBO and Max.

Beginning in 2025, the new season, designated as Season 56, will feature changes to its format. Episodes will now focus on one 11-minute story, allowing for deeper character development and emotional engagement with its young audience. Executive producer Sal Perez emphasized the importance of character-driven storytelling, stating, “The more kids want to hang out with our characters on Sesame Street, the more they’re going to take in those lessons.”

Past episodes of Sesame Street will also be made available on Netflix globally, marking a significant expansion in its reach while maintaining its long-running home on PBS. The show’s shift to include Netflix is viewed as a unique public-private partnership, allowing for broad access to its educational content. “This will enable us to bring our research-based curriculum to young children around the world,” stated Sesame Workshop CEO Sherri Westin.

Additionally, the new season promises fresh segments, including the return of popular themes such as Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck. The educational impact of Sesame Street is significant, having received numerous awards worldwide and being broadcast in over 150 countries.

Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS, expressed her commitment to the show’s mission, saying, “I strongly believe that our educational programming for children is one of the most important aspects of our service to the American people.” The combination of Netflix and PBS ensures that children across the U.S. continue to have access to Sesame Street’s beloved content.

The collaborative effort not only brings financial support to Sesame Workshop but also furthers the nonprofit’s mission to educate children in an engaging manner that has defined Sesame Street for more than fifty years.