Sesame Street Heads to Netflix Following Cuts to Public Broadcasting Funding
Sesame Street is set to make its debut on Netflix following a new partnership between the streaming giant and the producers of the iconic children’s show. The move comes amid major funding cuts from the U.S. federal government to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), the long-time home of the beloved series.
The deal will bring a fresh season of Sesame Street to Netflix’s global audience of over 300 million subscribers, alongside 90 hours of classic episodes. Despite the transition, PBS will continue to air the show, with new episodes available the same day as on Netflix.
The shift follows a turbulent period for the educational program, which faced uncertainty after Warner Bros. Discovery, owner of HBO, chose not to renew its licensing agreement. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting federal support for PBS and National Public Radio (NPR), accusing them of biased coverage. The decision also led to the cancellation of a long-standing initiative by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supported children’s programming, including Sesame Street.
Netflix hailed the show as a “beloved cornerstone of children’s media,” praising its long-standing commitment to nurturing young minds and promoting a love for learning.
Created in 1969 by Lloyd Morrisett and Joan Ganz Cooney, Sesame Street revolutionized educational television by combining early childhood research with entertainment. In collaboration with Muppets creator Jim Henson, the show introduced timeless characters like Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Elmo, all set against the backdrop of a relatable urban neighborhood.
Over the decades, the program has tackled everything from literacy to public health. In the early 2000s, Elmo made headlines when he addressed Congress on the importance of music education. During the childhood obesity crisis, Sesame Street launched health-focused segments, famously redefining cookies as a “sometimes food” and promoting balanced eating habits – with the help of Cookie Monster himself.
Netflix’s push into children’s programming reflects the growing demand for family-friendly content, which the company says makes up about 15% of total viewership. In addition to Sesame Street, the platform also announced it will stream new episodes of Peppa Pig and release an accompanying mobile game featuring puzzles and coloring activities.
As Sesame Street embarks on this new chapter, it continues its mission to educate and inspire children across generations – now through an even broader digital reach.
