Sesame Street’s New Chapter: A Global Partnership with Netflix and PBS

The beloved educational children’s series Sesame Street is set to enter a bold new era, marking a major shift in how generations of young viewers will experience the iconic show. After more than 50 years on public television and a transformative five-year run on HBO and Max, the franchise is embracing a dynamic new distribution model — a powerful public-private partnership between Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

🌍 Where to Watch: A Worldwide Streaming Future

Starting in 2025, Netflix will become the global home for all new Sesame Street episodes — not just in the U.S., but around the world. This landmark deal ensures that children everywhere, regardless of region or access to U.S. broadcast networks, can enjoy fresh content from the world’s most celebrated children’s show.

Simultaneously, new episodes will continue to debut on the same day across PBS stations and the PBS Kids platform, preserving the show’s long-standing relationship with public media and ensuring equitable access for American families — especially those in underserved communities.

"This unique public-private partnership with Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ensures Sesame Street can keep fulfilling its mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder."
— Sesame Workshop, May 19, 2025

🎬 A Modernized Format for Modern Viewers

The upcoming 56th season will feature a fresh narrative structure, inspired by the success of character-driven hits like Bluey. Each episode will revolve around an 11-minute core story, offering deeper emotional arcs and stronger continuity — while still retaining the joyful chaos and educational brilliance fans love.

Despite this structural evolution, the heart of Sesame Street remains intact:

• Elmo’s World returns in a reimagined format, focusing on curiosity and emotional learning.
• Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck continues its culinary adventures, teaching healthy eating through fun and friendship.
• Classic segments like The Letter of the Day, Sesame Street News, and Monster in the Mirror will be preserved and enhanced.

🎮 Play Along: Sesame Street Games on Netflix

In a first for the franchise, Netflix’s gaming initiative will expand into Sesame Street’s universe. Subscribers will be able to:

• Play interactive video games based on Sesame Street and its spinoff Sesame Street Mecha Builders.
• Use their mobile devices as controllers, making play accessible and intuitive for young users.

This move reflects a growing trend in children’s media: blending storytelling with gamified learning. With Sesame Workshop’s decades of expertise in developmental education, these games promise to teach social-emotional skills, problem-solving, and literacy in playful, engaging ways.

📺 Why the Move Away from HBO and Max?

HBO and Max had been partners since 2015, when they secured a $35 million, five-year deal to produce new episodes. That agreement concluded at the end of 2024, as Max reevaluated its content strategy.

While Max acknowledged the value of Sesame Street, it found that children’s programming underperformed in engagement metrics compared to other genres. As a result, they chose to shift focus away from kids’ content.

However, the legacy of the HBO/Marvel partnership lives on:
✅ All existing Sesame Street episodes remain available on HBO and Max through 2027, including the full library of new seasons from 2015–2024.
✅ No new episodes will be produced for Max moving forward.

This extended availability ensures that fans won’t lose access to years of beloved content — even as the franchise moves to a new home.

🏛️ A Legacy of Innovation and Inclusion

Debuted in November 1969, Sesame Street was revolutionary from the start — the first children’s show to use research-based curriculum to teach literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills. Over the decades, it has:

• Won 19 Daytime Emmy Awards
• Featured diverse characters and inclusive storytelling
• Introduced iconic figures like Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Abby Cadabby
• Reached over 150 million children in more than 150 countries

Now, with Netflix and PBS as co-anchors, the show is poised to reach a new generation — not just through TV and streaming, but through interactive play, digital learning, and global accessibility.

🔮 Looking Ahead

As Sesame Workshop celebrates its 50th anniversary as a nonprofit, the new era of Sesame Street represents more than a platform change — it’s a commitment to innovation, equity, and lifelong learning.

With Netflix’s global reach, PBS’s public service mission, and the enduring power of Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Elmo, one truth remains clear:

Sesame Street isn’t just a show — it’s a lifelong friend to children everywhere.

📺 New episodes begin streaming on Netflix and PBS Kids worldwide in 2025.
🎮 Play along in the Netflix app with new Sesame Street games launching later this year.
🌱 And the mission continues — to help children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder, one episode at a time.