NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Netflix has thrown 鈥淪esame Street鈥 a safety net with a new streaming deal that offers the popular children's staple a broad reach while keeping it on its long-standing home, PBS, at the same time, the companies announced Monday.
Starting later this year, new episodes will run on Netflix, PBS and the PBS Kids app on the same day. No specific premiere date was immediately announced. Select past episodes will be available on Netflix worldwide.
The change for the more than 50-year-old show comes after 鈥 which had aired 鈥 last year decided not to renew its deal for new episodes that air on HBO and Max, though episodes will remain there until 2027.
鈥淭his unique public-private partnership will enable us to bring our research-based curriculum to young children around the world with Netflix鈥檚 global reach, while ensuring children in communities across the U.S. continue to have free access on public television to the 鈥楽esame Street鈥 they love,鈥 Sesame Workshop said in its press release.
Sal Perez, the show鈥檚 executive producer and a Sesame Workshop vice president, that segments on the new season will be longer and 鈥渞eally focused on character,鈥 while also focusing on its audience鈥檚 emotional well-being and development.
For Season 56, episodes will revolve around one 11-minute story, the Netflix release said.
鈥淭he more kids want to hang out with our characters on 鈥楽esame Street,鈥 the more they鈥檙e going to take in those lessons,鈥 said Perez, adding that there would also be updates to the show鈥檚 look and feel. The new season will also feature more exploration of the 鈥淪esame Street鈥 neighborhood and a look inside the legendary two-story brownstone at 123 Sesame Street that houses Elmo, Bert and Ernie and more.
鈥淚 strongly believe that our educational programming for children is one of the most important aspects of our service to the American people, and 鈥楽esame Street鈥 has been an integral part of that critical work for more than half a century,鈥 said Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to continue our partnership in the pursuit of having a profound impact on the lives of children for years to come.鈥
鈥淪esame Street鈥 has been shown in more than 150 countries, amassing more than 200 Emmys in addition to Grammy and Peabody awards and a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime artistic achievement. Its fan-favorite characters like Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird and the Cookie Monster will now reside along the likes of Ms. Rachel, Blippi and the residents of 鈥淐oComelon Lane.鈥 Netflix says 鈥淜ids and Family鈥 programming makes up 15% of the streamer's total viewing.
