The decision by US President Donald Trump to pull funding for the free-to-air channel PBS has left the network scrambling to find alternative ways to fund its popular children’s show, Sesame Street. As a result, Sesame Street and Netflix have struck a deal that will see the iconic program appear on the streaming platform.
New Streaming Deal
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Netflix will offer its 300 million subscribers:
- A new season of Sesame Street.
- 90 hours of previous episodes from later this year.
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The show will still be available on PBS, but with one key difference:
- It will now be released simultaneously on both platforms.
This arrangement is due to a deal between Warner Bros Discovery and NBCUniversal News Group, which gives PBS access to new episodes at the same time they are released on Netflix.
Background of the Partnership
The partnership comes after Warner Bros Discovery previously refused to renew its contract with Sesame Workshop over disagreements about revenue sharing rights for international distribution deals. The company sought more money from these deals but was unable to reach an agreement with producers at Sesame Workshop and other partners, such as Disney+, which pays $100 million per year for their hit series Bluey.
Legacy of Sesame Street
Sesame Street was created by co-founders Lloyd Morrisett and Joan Ganz Cooney in collaboration with Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. Their goal was simple yet ambitious: to teach America’s youngest citizens valuable lessons through fun, engaging storylines featuring lovable characters like:
- Big Bird
- Cookie Monster
- Oscar the Grouch
- Bert
- Ernie
- Grover
- Count Von Count
- Abby Cadabby
- Elmo
- Telly Monster
- Zoe
- Rosita
- Luis
- Maria
- Hooper
- Susan
- Gordon
- Snuffy
- Grundgetta
- Julia
- Chris Hooper
- Alan
Muppet Performer Caroll Spinney played both Big Bird and Oscar until his death at age 85 last week, leaving behind a legacy of countless memories many people hold dear today.
Challenges Faced
In recent years, however, things haven’t gone smoothly, largely due to political reasons. Former President Barack Obama canceled federal funds allocated towards public broadcasting services, including NPR and PBS, citing budget constraints despite efforts made during his presidency to increase support via private donations and grants.
"Sesame Street is a beloved cornerstone of children’s media," said Netflix in a statement, "enchanting young minds and nurturing a love of learning."
Strategic Shift
The move is seen as an attempt by Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery (which owns HBO Max) to take advantage of the growing demand for high-quality content that can be streamed online without having to pay expensive cable TV bills or satellite subscriptions. This shift is particularly appealing to younger viewers who prefer watching shows whenever they want rather than waiting weeks or months for access through traditional broadcast channels.
As part of this strategy, both companies plan to expand their offerings beyond just movies and TV shows into:
- Original documentaries
- Series
- Podcasts
- Live events
- Music concerts
- Comedy specials
- Sports games
- Esports tournaments
- Virtual reality experiences
- Augmented reality experiences
- Interactive stories
- Interactive games
- Educational content
- Language learning apps
- Meditation and mindfulness apps
- Fitness and wellness apps
- Nutrition coaching apps
- Meal planning tools
- Grocery delivery services
This strategic expansion reflects a broader trend in media consumption, aiming to meet the diverse needs of modern audiences.
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