Sesame Street Finds a New Home on Netflix After PBS Funding Cut.
Beloved children’s show Sesame Street is heading to Netflix following a landmark deal, offering a lifeline to the iconic programme after U.S. President Donald Trump cut federal funding for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
Under the agreement, Netflix will stream a brand-new season of Sesame Street and 90 hours of classic episodes to its 300 million global subscribers. Despite the shift, PBS will continue airing the show, with new episodes made available on the public network the same day they launch on Netflix.
Netflix described the programme as a “beloved cornerstone of children's media, enchanting young minds and nurturing a love of learning.”
The partnership comes after Sesame Street faced a period of instability. Its previous deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, which distributed the show through HBO, was not renewed—leaving the future of the half-century-old series uncertain.
The situation was further complicated when President Trump issued an executive order earlier this month to halt federal funding to PBS and National Public Radio (NPR), citing what he called “biased and partisan news coverage.” The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the federal agency that previously supported PBS and NPR, subsequently ended a major initiative that funded educational children's programming—putting Sesame Street in jeopardy.
A Rich Legacy of Education and Impact
Sesame Street has been a pillar of early childhood education since its debut on November 10, 1969. Co-founders Lloyd Morrisett and Joan Ganz Cooney, working with a team of educators and psychologists from Harvard University and Muppet creator Jim Henson, designed the show to combine entertainment with impactful learning.
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Set on a familiar urban street and featuring beloved characters like Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Elmo, the programme has used humor, music, and storytelling to teach children essential skills—from literacy and numeracy to empathy and social awareness.
Its impact has extended far beyond TV screens. In 2002, Elmo testified before Congress in support of music education. In 2006, during a surge in childhood obesity, the show introduced “Healthy Habits” segments, where Cookie Monster famously rebranded cookies as a “sometimes food” to promote a balanced diet. Former First Lady Michelle Obama even visited the Sesame Street set to film a segment encouraging kids to eat healthy.
Netflix’s Expanding Focus on Children’s Content
The deal marks a major step in Netflix’s strategy to deepen its children’s content offerings, which account for 15% of all viewing on the platform. The streaming giant also announced it would be adding new episodes of Peppa Pig, alongside a companion mobile game featuring puzzles and coloring activities for kids.
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Peppa Pig—a popular animated series about a curious four-year-old piglet and her family—has become a staple for preschool audiences worldwide.
A Bright Future for Sesame Street
Despite political setbacks and industry shakeups, Sesame Street has secured its future on one of the world’s largest streaming platforms. With its educational mission intact and its global reach now expanded, the show is poised to inspire a new generation of children—on screens big and small.
Through this new chapter, Sesame Street continues to prove that even in uncertain times, learning, laughter, and kindness will always find a way to reach young hearts and minds.
