The next five seasons of ‘Sesame Street’ will debut on HBO

[DonViejo]

Source: New York Times

The letters of the day on “Sesame Street” are H, B and O.

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit group behind the children’s television program, has struck a deal with HBO, the premium cable network, that will bring the next five seasons of “Sesame Street” to HBO and its streaming outlets starting this fall.

The partnership will allow Sesame Workshop to significantly increase its production of “Sesame Street” episodes and other new programming. The group will produce 35 new “Sesame Street” episodes a year, up from the 18 it produces now. Sesame Workshop also will create a spinoff series based on the “Sesame Street” Muppets and another new educational series for children.

After nine months of programming exclusively on HBO, the shows also will be available free on PBS, its home for the past 45 years. “Sesame Street” will also continue its run on PBS this fall, with the season featuring a selection of episodes from the last several seasons edited in new ways.

“Sesame Workshop’s new partnership does not change the fundamental role PBS and stations play in the lives of families,” a PBS spokeswoman said in a statement, noting that PBS stations reach more children ages 2 to 5, more mothers of children under 6 and more low-income children than any children’s TV network, according to Nielsen.

Read more: http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=4z5Q7LhI+KVBjmEgFdYACPLKh239P3pgSUm6WmiIEVgntDaW3cj+iZqtlFrC29B45MbcUsNveUoAgPdVKqBzOgbW0drhu19Cj53Sy9WgxltTYnlqFwJp+L5tslXEmsPahb45ySPiCYvUcEwGeIq+wzbK5f07qKqB&campaign_id=132&instance_id=61575&segment_id=75955&user_id=5fc2acda8f5f8895cc85c5a3fb57458e&regi_id=57435284

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

1. Not sure how I feel about this

There was something pure about it being a PBS exclusive and on a nonprofit.

[christx30]

2. They weren't making enough to

produce as many episodes. Now they'll be able to put more content out, pay their people, and increase the visibility of their brand. I don't think it's going to change the soul of the show.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

4. I will say I'm looking forward to Muppet Games of Thrones

.

[fbc]

6. You mean Game of Chairs?

The monster is blue and full of errors.

[DonViejo]

3. Agree. Especially after the uproar over this....

[ShrimpPoboy]

5. Same concern here

But the economic realities are what they are. I do believe HBO will preserve the show for what made it great though.

What's really sad to me is that it's no longer "free" for viewers. PBS was there for everyone but now it's effectively behind a pay wall.

[Bjorn Against]

10. While HBO is for profit, it is also commercial free

And that commercial free status means that they have no need to please advertisers.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. I saw a NYT breaking banner and my heart sank

I was like, WTF? I really do hope they allow PBS to get those episodes quickly. Am guessing this would run on their "HBO Family" station, obviously not their "regular" channels.

[cstanleytech]

12. I wouldnt be to concerned, there are 30+ years of episodes they can air which might be good for PBS

if they promote it right.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. However times have changed

and the tech that youngsters have become familiar with from birth, has changed since the first episode over 45 years ago. And that would need to be reflected in new episodes in an entertaining but meaningful way. And it would be hard to do that with earlier material.

[cstanleytech]

14. I suspect that the average 3 - 6 year old isnt likely to notice.

[BumRushDaShow]

16. There are older children than that watching it

because the children who appear on it are older and children like to see others their age.

The problem here was that in light of the "Dick and Jane" and Mr. Roger's Neighborhood" fantasy "suburban" era that was perpetuated in the '60s, when urban children saw nothing that reflected them or their environment, Sesame Street addressed this. Now it's being taken away in terms of it expected to be "non-pay" and "current".

It's not surprising.

It was once de jure illegal for blacks to learn how to read so now it's become de facto, by eliminating learning tools and free programming, closing public and school libraries, and priming the children to be a part of the bread and circuses industry as athletes and entertainers.

[cstanleytech]

17. Hey, write to your congressman asking for more funding to PBS then.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. The PTB are trying to take down my congressman

one of the most liberal in the House and elected with highest number of votes of any of the 435 - Chakah Fattah. He is on the Appropriations committee, and on the subcommittee that handles the CPB. But remember, the GOP controls everything so until the next election with hope that Democrats can retake the House (and perhaps the Senate), anything to do with "education" (let alone anything else noted in the Constitution that "promotes the public welfare&quot is dead in the water..

[Exultant Democracy]

8. HBO picks up this and Netflix is making more Reading Rainbow

Last edited Thu Aug 13, 2015, 12:55 PM - Edit history (1)

From what we know about how both these companies allow their content producers to work independently I don't see how this could be anything but good news.

[Bjorn Against]

9. As long as it goes to PBS eventually I think this is a good thing

There is good news and bad news here but I think the good outweighs the bad.

The bad of course is that HBO is a paid service so many children will not have access to new episodes. Fortunately it sounds like they will make their way to PBS eventually so while kids may have to wait they will not have to wait forever and kids of the target age group don't understand that it is not a brand new episode anyways.

The good news is I trust HBO with the series more than I would trust any other network. HBO produces a ton of educational and social justice oriented programming and I have no doubt that they will make sure the show remains as educational as it has always been, and with a bigger budget they can likely improve the quality as well.

HBO has actually made some quality children's programming in the past, but they need more of it. Especially now that they are moving into the streaming world and need to compete with Netflix they need content to appeal to all audiences. When it comes to movies and documentaries that appeal to adults their selection already blows away Netflix, but Netflix has more children's programming. Ģetting Sesame Street is going to help their streaming service a lot.

[Jester Messiah]

11. Game of Muppets. True Felt.

The possibilities are mind-blowing!

[ButterflyBlood]

15. Ooooh, does this mean the characters can appear on John Oliver?

Now THAT would be awesome.

[Democat]

18. Sesame Street licensing and budget

In 2011 Sesame Workshop took in $46.9 million in licensing income from Sesame Street.

Sesame Street's production company, Sesame Workshop, has an annual budget of $133 million.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/big-bird-big-business_654415.html