Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind theEmmy Award-winning programSesame Streetand HBO, the nation’s leading premium cable network, today announced a new partnership that will make the next five seasons of the iconic series available on HBO and its multiplex channels, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and the new internet-only SVOD service HBO NOW. As a key part of the deal,Sesame Streetwill be able to produce almost twice as much new content as previous seasons, and for the first time ever, make the show available free of charge to PBS and its member stations after a nine-month window. Here’s what Sesame Workshop CEOJeffrey D. Dunnhad to say in a statement.
“Our new partnership with HBO represents a true winning public-private partnership model. It providesSesame Workshopwith the critical funding it needs to be able to continue production ofSesame Streetand secure its nonprofit mission of helping kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder; it gives HBO exclusive pay cable and SVOD access to the nation’s most important and historic educational programming; and it allowsSesame Streetto continue to air on PBS and reach all children, as it has for the past 45 years.”
In addition to the next five seasons ofSesame Street, Sesame Workshop will produce a Sesame Street Muppet Spinoff Series, as well as develop a new originaleducational seriesfor children. HBO has also licensed over 150 library episodes ofSesame Street. The new episodes will begin airing as early as late fall 2015, and HBO will be the exclusive, first-run subscription television distribution partner forSesame Streetand the new series.Richard Plepler, Chairman and CEO of HBO, andMichael Lombardo, President, HBO Programming, had this to say in a joint statement.
“We are absolutely thrilled to help secure the future ofSesame Streetand Sesame Workshop’s mission for the nation’s kids and families. Home Box Office is committed to bringing the most groundbreaking and creative shows to its audience. Sesame Street is the most important preschool education program in the history of television. We are delighted to be a home for this extraordinary show, helping Sesame Street expand and build its franchise.”
HBO will have the right to air all series in both English and Spanish. All new series will also be made available to PBS and its member stations after the first window. Episodes ofSesame Streetwill continue to be made available, uninterrupted, as part of the PBS KIDS service on PBS member stations. Here’s what Joan Ganz Cooney, co-founder ofSesame Street, had to say in her statement.
“I’ve long admired the creative work of HBO and can’t think of a better partner to continue the quality ofSesame Street’s programming. Over the past decade, both the way in which children are consuming video and the economics of the children’s television production business have changed dramatically. In order to fund our nonprofit mission with a sustainable business model, Sesame Workshop must recognize these changes and adapt to the times.”
In addition to Sesame Street, HBO will also license approximately 50 past episodes of the two acclaimed children’s series Pinky Dinky Doo, ananimated seriesfor preschoolers that focuses on early literacy, and The Electric Company, which was rebooted in 2009, from Sesame Workshop. What do you think aboutSesame Street’s new partnership with HBO? Chime in with your thoughts, and stay tuned for more updates.
