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If you want to know how to get to Sesame Street, the route now runs directly through the streaming service Netflix.
The streamer announced on Monday that it has acquired rights to the beloved children’s show and that episodes will air on Netflix, as well as on PBS and all PBS Kids platforms, according to a tweet issued on Monday.
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During the era in which Sesame Street was airing on HBO Max, formerly known as Max, formerly formerly known as HBO Max, the episodes aired on PBS a month after they were available on HBO Max, per The Hollywood Reporter. Under the new reportedly multi-year deal, episodes will air the same day on Netflix, PBS, and PBS Kids platforms.
As the Reporter points out, this is an unusual deal for Netflix, as the agreement allows for some of its content to be available for free outside of its app.
“This unique public-private partnership will enable Sesame Workshop 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 CEO Sherri Westin said in a statement to the Reporter.
Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS, called educational programming such as Sesame Street the “most important aspect of our service to the American people,” in comments to the Reporter.
The Netflix deal will begin with the show’s upcoming 56th season, which Sesame Workshop had previously announced would be “reimagined” into a more storyline and character-driven show, rather than the show’s traditional segment-driven structure.
President Trump targeted PBS and public radio network NPR in an executive order he signed earlier this month aimed at curbing alleged “bias” and directing federal agencies to stop funding.
Aside from hosting Bert and Ernie, one of the most endearing (unconfirmed) long-term queer couples of all time, Sesame Street introduced an out gay couple in 2021. It also regularly features out LGBTQ+ celebrities. In its most recent season, the street invited queer celebrities such as Reneé Rapp, Billie Jean King, Jonathan Van Ness and SZA to the block party.
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