PBS KIDS Announces New Deal to Continue Broadcasting Sesame Street
In a significant development for children’s education and entertainment, PBS KIDS has announced a new multi-year deal to continue broadcasting Sesame Street, extending its more than 50-year partnership with the iconic children’s show. According to a statement released by PBS, the new deal will see Season 56 of Sesame Street debut on PBS stations and across PBS KIDS video and games digital platforms.
"We’re proud to continue our partnership in the pursuit of having a profound impact on the lives of children for years to come," said Paula Kerger, President and CEO of PBS, as quoted in the press release from PBS KIDS. "I strongly believe that our educational programming for children is one of the most important aspects of our service to the American people, and Sesame Street has been an integral part of that critical work for more than half a century."
The partnership, which is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and PBS, ensures that PBS KIDS can continue to make Sesame Street, a programme with proven educational impact, accessible to children across the US for free and without commercials. As part of the deal, new episodes of Sesame Street will also be available on Netflix on the same day they air on PBS KIDS.
"This unique public-private partnership ensures children in communities across the US continue to have free access on PBS KIDS to the Sesame Street they love," said Sherrie Westin, CEO of Sesame Workshop, as cited in the PBS KIDS press release. "This combined support advances our mission and ensures we can help all children—everywhere—grow smarter, stronger, and kinder."
The new deal builds on a more than 50-year history of PBS KIDS and Sesame Workshop partnering to bring critical early learning opportunities to families nationwide. According to Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager of PBS KIDS, "Public media is essential, and we know from years of research that providing new, high-quality content to children across the country for free helps prepare them for success in school and life."
The partnership will also see local PBS stations continue to incorporate Sesame Street into their outreach to communities on-air, through digital platforms, and on the ground. Ed Ulman, President and CEO of Alaska Public Media, welcomed the news, saying, "This is positive news for families across Alaska. This is another fine example of the public-private partnerships that ensure children and parents will have uninterrupted, free access to new episodes of this landmark program to help them build a love for learning and new skills."
Similarly, Courtney Pledger, Executive Director and CEO of Arkansas PBS, noted, "Today is a great day for quality children’s programming in Arkansas. This innovative agreement brings an institution directly to the homes of Arkansas families. We are thrilled Sesame Street will remain a quality source of learning and education that is entirely free."
As part of the deal, PBS KIDS will release new episodes of Sesame Street on its stations, channel, and digital platforms. An expanded collection of 25 new and library episodes will be available to stream across PBS KIDS digital platforms, with new episodes also available on Netflix on the same day. Additionally, new games will be added to the growing library of Sesame Street games available on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Games app.
Full episodes and clips of Sesame Street will also be available on the PBS KIDS YouTube Channel, while Sesame Workshop and PBS KIDS will expand the existing library of parent and educator resources on PBS KIDS for Parents and PBS LearningMedia. An evergreen toolkit of Sesame Street-related assets will also be available to PBS stations to support their local sustainability and public service efforts.
About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS is the number one educational media brand for kids, with a mission to spark children’s curiosity and help them succeed in school and life. Families can stream PBS KIDS for free on the PBS KIDS Video app, connected TV devices, pbskids.org, and more. For more information, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Facebook and Instagram.
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street, working at the intersection of education, media, and research to create joyful experiences that enrich minds and expand hearts. With beloved characters, iconic shows, and outreach in communities, Sesame Workshop brings playful early learning to families in more than 150 countries and advances its mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Learn more at www.sesame.org and follow Sesame Workshop on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X.
