Netflix Secures Sesame Street After HBO Max Deal Ends

Fans of the iconic children's show, Sesame Street, can breathe a sigh of relief as the beloved series, which first aired in 1969, finds a new home on Netflix and PBS after HBO and Max decided not to renew their contract at the end of 2024. This exciting development ensures that the educational and entertaining journey on Sesame Street continues uninterrupted.

Starting with its 56th season, new episodes of Sesame Street will be available on Netflix worldwide, alongside a comprehensive catalog of past episodes. Additionally, these new episodes will premiere on the same day on PBS stations and PBS Kids in the US, maintaining the long-standing relationship that spans over 50 years. This move not only secures the show's future but also expands its reach to a global audience.

In a strategic move, Netflix, which is expanding its gaming offerings, will also develop video games based on Sesame Street and its spinoff, Sesame Street Mecha Builders. This will allow subscribers to engage with their favorite characters in new and interactive ways, using their mobile devices as controllers.

The announcement was made on May 19, 2025, via Sesame Street's social media channels. The Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the series, celebrated the new partnership, stating, "The support of Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting serve as a unique public-private partnership to enable Sesame Street to continue to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder."

We are excited to announce that all new Sesame Street episodes are coming to @netflix worldwide along with library episodes, and new episodes will also release the same day on @PBS Stations and @PBSKIDS platforms in the US, preserving a 50+ year relationship.

The support of… pic.twitter.com/B76MxQzrpI

— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) May 19, 2025

Season 56 of Sesame Street will also introduce structural changes, featuring an 11-minute story at the beginning of each episode, inspired by successful character-driven children's shows like Bluey. Fans can also look forward to the return of beloved segments such as Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck, blending tradition with fresh storytelling techniques.

Sesame Street first aired in November 1969 and joined the PBS network in the 1970s, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon. HBO and Max began their partnership with the show in 2015 with a significant $35 million deal for new episodes. Although this collaboration ended in late 2024 as HBO and Max shifted away from children's programming, the Sesame Street library will remain accessible on these platforms until 2027, albeit without new content production.