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Netflix has reached a new agreement with the producers of “Sesame Street” that will bring the long-running children’s television program to its platform.
The deal comes after the show’s future was left uncertain due to the expiration of its contract with Warner Bros. Discovery’s HBO and recent federal funding cuts to public broadcasters in the United States.
The new partnership will see Netflix offer a new season of “Sesame Street” later this year, along with 90 hours of archived episodes.
The program will continue to be available on PBS, which will now have access to the same-day releases of new episodes alongside Netflix’s global streaming service.
The move follows a recent executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump blocking federal funding for PBS and NPR.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which previously supported these broadcasters, has since announced the termination of a federal initiative that financed educational children’s programming, including “Sesame Street”.
Netflix described the show as “a beloved cornerstone of children’s media, enchanting young minds and nurturing a love of learning.”
“Sesame Street”, which first aired on November 10, 1969, was developed by Lloyd Morrisett and Joan Ganz Cooney in collaboration with Harvard education experts and Muppets creator Jim Henson.
The show has since become a global cultural fixture, known for its educational content, iconic characters such as Big Bird and Elmo, and social impact initiatives.
Over the years, the program has addressed public health issues such as childhood obesity and nutrition.
In 2006, it introduced “Healthy Habits” segments promoting balanced diets, with characters like Cookie Monster declaring that cookies are a “sometimes food.”
Former First Lady Michelle Obama also appeared on the show to advocate for healthy eating.
The streaming giant, which reports that children’s content accounts for 15% of viewing on its platform, also announced the addition of new “Peppa Pig” episodes and an interactive mobile game based on the British animated series.
