• ‘Sesame Street’ signs new distribution deals with Netflix and PBS.
• New episodes will feature on both platforms simultaneously, starting later this year.
• The program will incorporate longer, story-focused segments in its 56th season.
• This transition follows the expiration of its HBO deal amid financial challenges.
• Sesame Workshop aims to sustain its educational impact through these partnerships.

The beloved children’s series “Sesame Street” has secured new distribution deals with Netflix and PBS, significantly enhancing its accessibility. Starting later this year, new episodes will debut simultaneously on Netflix, PBS, and the PBS Kids app, marking a notable change in how the show is presented to audiences. This move allows “Sesame Street” to reach Netflix's broad subscriber base, which exceeds 300 million worldwide, expanding its global footprint while retaining its traditional home on PBS, which had not aired new episodes in years, according to The New York Times.

Additionally, the new season, which will consist of 90 hours of previous programming and debut later this year, promises a shift in format, focusing on lengthier, narrative-driven segments. The episodes will emphasize character development and explore themes that support the emotional well-being of young viewers. Sal Perez, the executive producer of “Sesame Street,” highlighted that the new storytelling approach will engage children more effectively by “focusing on character” and delivering educational content more vibrantly, according to South China Morning Post and CBS News.

This evolving partnership comes on the heels of financial difficulties faced by Sesame Workshop, which saw significant revenue losses after HBO's contract expired. With the transition away from HBO, which had previously invested between $30 million and $35 million annually in the show since 2015, the terms of the new agreements are noted to be less financially lucrative. Nonetheless, the leadership at Sesame Workshop expressed optimism regarding these changes. CEO Sherrie Westin called it "certainly worth celebrating" despite the new economic landscape, reflecting a determined adaptation to shifting media consumption patterns, according to HuffPost and The New York Times.

As “Sesame Street” enters this new chapter, its legacy as a pioneering educational program remains strong. Over the past 50 years, it has amassed over 200 Emmy Awards and continues to influence children's television worldwide. With these new deals, the show reaffirms its commitment to providing essential educational content for children across varying demographics, ensuring that they maintain free access to the valuable lessons the show offers, according to South China Morning Post, CBS News, and HuffPost.