Sesame Street has a new future. Dun dun!
For a moment there it seemed like the residents of Sesame Street would be homeless, likely riding the rails with a bindle in hand.
Today we discovered Sesame Street is moving into Netflix.
Back in 2015, Sesame Street struck a deal with HBO for around $30-35 million to deliver first-run episodes to the premium cable TV business, while giving second window to PBS. Sesame Street needed additional funding and this was a fairly elegant solution that kept the show alive without abandoning PBS entirely.
But then last year, Warner Bros Discovery opted against renewing the deal. The WBD streamer Max (soon to be HBO Max) was making a pivot away from kids programming - instead, it is more focused on family fare and shows for older kids based on WB IP. It did strike a deal to access Sesame Street library titles for $6m.
Sesame Street has been in crisis all year. 20% of its workforce were let go a few months ago, with the Sesame Street format overhauled to make it a stickier proposition for kids - and hopefully more attractive to a prospective buyer.
Today Sesame Street found its new home - but is it a forever home?
It’s a win for Sesame Street in that with the new distribution channel, Sesame Street is now more widely available than it ever has been with 300 million subscribers globally. Under the global rights deal, Netflix gets the reimagined 56th season - currently in production. It also gets 90 hours of library episodes and will be able to develop games for Sesame Street.
On Netflix, the show will sit alongside buzzy kids shows Ms. Rachel, CoComelon, and (in the US) Peppa Pig. The new episodes will also be available in the US on PBS and PBS Kids the same day. Netflix says kids and family viewing represents 15% of its total viewership
Netflix today also announced a World of Peppa Pig app.
I’m a bit wary about the new format that the show is about to unveil. Gone is the magazine format show we all grew up with, where there would be short sketches built around lessons, jokes, and songs. The new Sesame Street will be more narrative-focused with longer 11-minute segments and new Tales From 123 animated short.
Could the move to Sesame Street be permanent?
At the moment, it seems like the Sesame Street is a straight licensing deal with Netflix, but I’d suggest keeping an eye on how Netflix talks about the show going forward. If it performs well for Netflix, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if the streamer makes an acquisition of Sesame Street. Such acquisitions are rare for the company (it did buy the Roald Dahl intellectual property in 2021), but with Sesame Street entering it’s 56th season, there is a unique opportunity to make a purchase that feels pretty safe as paying off as a longterm investment.
News Desk
While S.W.A.T. has finished up at CBS, Shemar Moore isn’t done playing Hondo. He’ll be back for a spin-off next season - the 10-episode S.W.A.T. Exiles. The 200-person crew working on S.W.A.T. will carry over to the new production. Read: Deadline
CBS news chief Wendy McMahon has announced she is leaving. CBS is believed to be ready to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump over a CBS news interview with Kamala Harris which many legal experts believe would be easily won by the network if it reached a court. Read: THR
With McMahon out, it is believed the struggling CBS Evening News will receive an overhaul to make it more competitive. Read: Variety
Ryan Murphy is working on an adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis book The Shards for FX. Read: Deadline
A new version of the Scrabble game show is coming to The CW with new host Craig Ferguson. Read: Deadline
Australia’s ABC has appointed Freya Campbell as Director of Communications. Read: TV Tonight
Jessica Biel is developing a new take on 7th Heaven with a diverse cast. Nobody from the original show is expected to be involved in an on-screen role. Read: Variety
The Steve Wilkos Show has been renewed for a 19th season for the syndicated TV market. For those who have no idea what this is, Steve Wilkos was the on-stage security guy for The Jerry Springer Show and went on to host his own similar show. Read: Deadline
Lee Mack’s sitcom Not Going Out has been picked up for another season, which will involve a time jump. Read: Radio Times
Ampere Analysis says the delay of the release of Grand Theft Auto VI will cost the video game industry $2.7 billion in 2025. Don’t worry, the industry is is setting a new record this year as it grows one percent to pass $200m in spend on services and content. Read: THR
Paul Robinson is exiting as President of Kartoon Channel Worldwide. Read: Deadline
Gary Lineker will leave the BBC sooner than expected (following more accusations of antisemitism) - he’ll finish up following the conclusion of Match of the Day for the 2024/25 season, but won’t be part of the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup or next season’s FA Cup coverage. Read: Radio Times
Australian Prime Video / Sony Pictures Television series The Narrow Road to the Deep North will compete at the Emmys in the Primetime category for best limited series and not chase an International Emmy. Read: THR
Trailer Park
Mix Tape debuts on BINGE June 12. I’ve been waiting for this show for some time now and it looks like an absolute charmer.
Moving between their teenage romance in Sheffield, England in 1989 and the modern-day reality of their adult relationships, MIX TAPE follows Daniel (Jim Sturgess) and Alison (Teresa Palmer), now living on opposite sides of the world, as they reconnect through a song from their shared past and explore their burning curiosity to understand if this is the love, and life, they were meant to have.
Predator: Killer of Killers debuts on Hulu June 6.
The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball debuts on Hulu later this year.
A Widow’s Game debuts on Netflix May 30.
When a man is found dead, the investigation shatters his widow's perfect facade and exposes a hidden double life in this thriller based on real events.
That’s the newsletter for today.
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