NEED TO KNOW
- Netflix announced that the beloved children’s show would be continuing its 56th season on the streamer
- The news comes months after Warner Bros. Discovery did not renew its agreement to help finance the production of or air new episodes of Sesame Street on its streaming platform, Max
- Max has been Sesame Street‘s home since 2016, and will continue to make a portion of the Sesame Street library available on Max through 2027
Sesame Street is moving to a brand new home!
On Monday, May 19, Netflix announced that the beloved children’s show would be continuing its 56th season on the streamer, months after Warner Bros. Discovery did not renew its agreement to help finance the production of or air new episodes of Sesame Street on its streaming platform, Max.
According to a press release, season 56 of Sesame Street will air both on Netflix and PBS on the same day and be released in three batches. The upcoming season will also feature “fresh format changes” and the return of beloved segments like Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck.
Some of the new format changes will include to-camera moments where characters will speak directly to viewers, animation overlays, visual effects such as wand sparkles, bubbles and confetti, and one 11-minute story.
A new animated segment titled “Tales from 123” will also be debuting in the new season. “Tales from 123” will take fans inside the apartment building that Cookie Monster, Elmo and their friends call home.
In December 2024, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Warner Bros. Discovery would no longer be airing on Max. Per the outlet, Max — which has been Sesame Street‘s home since 2016 — is shifting its programming strategy to focus on adult and family content. (It was also recently announced that Max would be reverting to its previous name, HBO Max.)
At the time, a spokesperson for Sesame Workshop assured the outlet that the series had a bright future ahead despite the streamer’s decision not to renew their contract.
“We will continue to invest in our best-in-class programming and look forward to announcing our new distribution plans in the coming months, ensuring that Sesame Street reaches as many children as possible for generations to come,” the spokesperson said.
Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch and the Cookie Monster first debuted on the small screen in 1969. Every year since the Sesame Street characters have found new and fun ways to educate young children about everything from letters and numbers to practicing good hygiene and eating healthy.
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A portion of the Sesame Street library will be available to view on Max through 2027. Currently, the streaming service only offers seasons 1, 5, 7 and 39–54. A select few episodes of Sesame Street are also available on PBS Kids.
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