Sesame Street Welcomes its New Home on Netflix

“Sesame Street” Finds a New Streaming Home on Netflix Amid Financial Struggles

After navigating a rocky road of financial uncertainty, Sesame Street has landed a new digital home—this time, on Netflix. The long-running, iconic children’s series will debut its 56th season on the global streaming platform, alongside a treasure trove of 90 hours of classic episodes. Though Netflix hasn’t set an exact release date, the new season will roll out in three parts.

In a major win for accessibility, Sesame Street will also continue airing on PBS, its original broadcasting partner. And for the first time in over a decade, new episodes will be available on public television without the months-long delay that had become the norm during its time with HBO.

This shift comes after Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the show, was left scrambling when Max (formerly HBO Max) ended its 10-year partnership. That departure created a massive budget hole, leading to staff layoffs and a scramble to secure alternative funding. Further complicating matters, cuts in federal support during the Trump administration put even more strain on the show's resources.

While the financial terms of the Netflix deal remain under wraps, industry insiders expect it to generate less revenue than the prior HBO arrangement. Still, with Netflix’s massive subscriber base—topping 300 million globally—Sesame Street could reach a broader and more diverse audience than ever before.

The children’s entertainment landscape has changed dramatically since Sesame Street first aired in 1969. With endless content options now available, competition has grown fierce and viewership has dipped. Nevertheless, the show retains a cherished place in American culture, connecting generations through its messages of kindness, learning, and inclusion.

Back in 2015, HBO stepped in to rescue Sesame Street from a previous financial crunch, allowing new episodes to debut on the premium platform before eventually reaching PBS. Under the new Netflix arrangement, fresh episodes will become available simultaneously on both platforms. Unlike during the HBO era, PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will now help fund the show—though specific figures weren’t disclosed.

The new partnership also brings creative changes. Originally, the upcoming season was planned to include two 11-minute stories per episode, tailored for older preschoolers. But the format has been revised: each episode will now focus on a single 11-minute story, followed by a new animated segment called Tales from 123, and then wrap up with classic favorites like Elmo’s World, which targets younger viewers.

“This collaboration between Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting represents a rare and powerful alliance between public and private sectors to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder,” read a statement on the show’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Sherrie Rollins Westin, President and CEO of Sesame Workshop, said the deal would significantly increase the show's international presence, while still ensuring that children across the United States have free access via public TV.

PBS President Paula Kerger also emphasized the show's importance: “Our children’s programming is one of our most vital contributions to American families, and Sesame Street has been a cornerstone of that mission for over 50 years. We're honored to help it continue making a lasting difference.”