"Netflix Secures Sesame Street for New Episodes Post-HBO Max"

Fans of the iconic children's television series, Sesame Street, have reason to celebrate. The show, which has been enchanting audiences since its debut in 1969, is set to continue its journey on new platforms after HBO and Max chose not to renew their contract at the end of 2024. Now, viewers can look forward to streaming Sesame Street on both Netflix and PBS, ensuring that the beloved characters and educational content remain accessible to children worldwide.

New episodes will be available on Netflix, alongside a comprehensive catalog of past episodes. Additionally, these new episodes will be released on the same day they air on PBS stations and PBS Kids, maintaining the show's longstanding relationship with PBS. This move not only broadens the show's reach but also aligns with Netflix's strategy to expand its gaming offerings. Subscribers will soon be able to enjoy Sesame Street-themed video games, including those based on the spinoff series, Sesame Street Mecha Builders, directly through the Netflix app using their mobile devices as controllers.

The announcement was made via Sesame Street's social media channels on May 19, highlighting the new public-private partnership with Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. "The support of Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting serve as a unique public-private partnership to enable Sesame Street to continue to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder," stated the Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind the series.

We are excited to announce that all new Sesame Street episodes are coming to @netflix worldwide along with library episodes, and new episodes will also release the same day on @PBS Stations and @PBSKIDS platforms in the US, preserving a 50+ year relationship.

The support of… pic.twitter.com/B76MxQzrpI

— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) May 19, 2025

As Sesame Street embarks on its 56th season, viewers can expect some structural changes. Each episode will now feature an 11-minute story, drawing inspiration from character-driven children's shows like Bluey. While embracing this new format, the show will also bring back beloved segments such as Elmo's World and Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck, ensuring a blend of innovation and nostalgia.

Sesame Street first aired in November 1969 and joined the PBS network in the 1970s, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon. In 2015, HBO and Max entered into a $35 million deal to produce new episodes, which concluded at the end of 2024 as the streamers shifted away from children's programming. However, the Sesame Street library will remain accessible on HBO and Max until 2027, extending the original 10-year agreement, though without the production component.