“Sesame Street” is back in session. After a brief financial scare and streaming uncertainty, the beloved children’s show has found a new home on Netflix.
In a viral moment last month, Elmo “announced” his own layoff in a now-deleted LinkedIn post. The parody post played off budget cut concerns after Warner Bros. Discovery chose not to renew its contract with Max, leaving Sesame Street temporarily without a streaming platform.
Netflix picks up new season
According to Sesame Workshop, Netflix will now carry the upcoming 56th season along with 90 hours of classic episodes. The announcement teased several changes for longtime fans and new viewers alike.
“The new season will feature fresh format changes and the return of fan-favorite segments like Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck,” it stated. “Additionally, episodes will now center on one 11-minute story, allowing for even more character-driven humor and heart.”
The show will still air on PBS, despite an executive order from President Donald Trump. The order, signed in early May, directed federal agencies to end public funding for NPR and PBS, citing “radical, woke propaganda.”
Streaming competition includes ‘Bluey’ and Ms. Rachel
“Sesame Street” now joins the ranks of other top-performing children’s programs on streaming platforms. That includes the massively popular “Bluey” on Disney+ and Ms. Rachel, who debuted on Netflix earlier this year after first rising to fame on YouTube.
According to Social Blade estimates, her online presence alone may bring in up to $18 million per year.
Sesame Workshop emphasized that kids’ content continues to drive a major share of viewership on the platform.
“Kids and family viewing represents 15% of Netflix’s total viewing,” the announcement said. “Whether it’s laughing alongside their favorite characters with Ms. Rachel, ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse,’ ‘CoComelon Lane,’ ‘Blippi’ and ‘Hot Wheels Let’s Race,’ or diving into exciting new adventures with ‘The Sea Beast’ and ‘Leo,’ we’ve built a space where kids can watch, play, and learn.”
Pediatric guidelines warn against early screen time
While access to children’s programming is easier than ever, health experts still caution parents about screen time, especially for very young kids.
A 2020 Pew Research study found that 57% of parents with children aged 0–2 said their child watched videos on YouTube. That number rose to 81% for parents of children aged 3–4.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time at all for children under 18 months. Meanwhile, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry advises limiting screen use between 18 and 24 months to educational programming with a caregiver. For children ages 2 to 5, screen time should be kept between one to three hours per day.
Netflix release date for ‘Sesame Street’ still unknown
There is no official release date yet for “Sesame Street’s” debut on Netflix. However, Sesame Workshop said the season is expected to arrive later this year.
