Sesame Street and PBS in New Deal Amid Funding Uncertainty
A significant development has emerged in the world of children’s entertainment and education, as Sesame Street and PBS have announced a new agreement. According to a report from the BBC, under the terms of the deal, PBS will gain access to Sesame Street episodes on the same day they are released on Netflix. This move comes at a time when the future of public broadcasting in the United States is uncertain, with President Trump having recently issued an executive order to block federal funding for PBS and the National Public Radio (NPR) network.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports the two broadcasters, has since announced the termination of a federal initiative that funded shows for children, including Sesame Street. The decision has raised concerns about the impact on the educational programming that PBS and Sesame Street provide. As reported by the BBC, the new deal between Sesame Street and PBS will ensure that children can continue to access high-quality educational content.
Sesame Street has a long and storied history, dating back to its conception in the late 1960s. The show’s co-founders, Lloyd Morrisett and Joan Ganz Cooney, approached Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education with a novel approach to teaching American children. A team led by a developmental psychologist worked with the Sesame founders to analyse childhood psychology and produce entertaining lessons. As the BBC notes, they collaborated with Muppets creator Jim Henson to create characters like Big Bird, with a set made to look like an urban street.
Since its first airing on 10 November 1969, millions of children have grown up with the show’s theme tune "Can you tell me how to get, how get to Sesame Street?" The programme and its characters have gained a life beyond the small screen, with popular character Elmo stepping into the public policy spotlight in 2002, when he was invited to discuss music education at Congress. During a child obesity epidemic in the US in 2006, Sesame Street aired Health Habits segments designed to teach kids about diet and exercise. The Cookie Monster declared cookies a "sometimes food" and taught children about a balanced diet. Former First Lady Michelle Obama also visited Sesame’s studios to film a segment on healthy eating.
As reported by the BBC, Netflix has been increasing its focus on children’s content, which accounts for 15% of viewing on its service. The platform has announced that new episodes of Peppa Pig and a mobile game with puzzles and colouring activities will be coming to the platform. The animated show is centred on the adventures of a four-year-old piglet called Peppa who lives with her family in a fictional British town.
The new deal between Sesame Street and PBS is a significant development in the world of children’s entertainment and education. As the BBC notes, the partnership will ensure that children can continue to access high-quality educational content, despite the uncertainty surrounding public broadcasting in the United States. The agreement will also provide PBS with access to Sesame Street episodes on the same day they are released on Netflix, ensuring that children can continue to learn and be entertained through the popular programme. According to the BBC, this move is a positive step for children’s education and entertainment.
The BBC also reports that the impact of the deal on the future of public broadcasting in the United States remains to be seen. The decision to block federal funding for PBS and NPR has raised concerns about the long-term viability of public broadcasting in the country. However, the new deal between Sesame Street and PBS demonstrates that, despite these challenges, high-quality educational content can still be produced and accessed by children. As the BBC notes, this is a positive development for children’s education and entertainment.
