Sesame Street Goes Global: Netflix Deal Marks Major New Chapter for Beloved Children’s Show
The iconic children’s programme Sesame Street is embarking on its most wide‑reaching distribution ever, thanks to a landmark deal that brings it to a global streaming platform while preserving its presence on public television in the United States.
Renewed Reach for a 50‑Something Year Old Favourite
Starting later this year, new episodes of Sesame Street will premiere simultaneously on Netflix and on U.S. public broadcaster PBS (via its linear channels and the PBS Kids app). At the same time, Netflix will make selected past episodes available globally.
This represents a major shift after the show’s prior streaming arrangement with Warner Bros. Discovery (HBO/Max) came to an end.
Why the Change Matters
For children’s media, this move marks a bridging of public television’s mission and global streaming’s reach: the show’s educational ethos remains intact via PBS, while Netflix extends it worldwide.
It comes at a moment of financial and structural challenge for the programme’s producer, Sesame Workshop, which faced funding uncertainties when the previous partner withdrew.
The show will also update its format: for its 56th season, one change includes each episode focusing on a single 11‑minute story, complemented by new animations and deeper explorations of the Sesame neighbourhood.
Quotes & Perspective
A Sesame Workshop spokesperson described the collaboration as a “unique public‑private partnership” that will allow them to bring their curriculum to children around the world, while ensuring free access in the U.S. via public television.
Meanwhile, PBS CEO Paula Kerger reaffirmed that the show remains a critical part of children’s educational broadcasting and expressed pride in continuing the partnership.
Looking Ahead
With Netflix’s membership base spanning hundreds of millions and the show’s legacy stretching over five decades and 150 plus countries, this deal may signal the next phase for Sesame Street’s global influence and access.
For the UK and other markets where the programme had been absent or irregular, this global rollout may bring it back into regular rotation. The Guardian’s headline even heralded it as “the second coming we all deserve”.