SESAME STREET Seeking New Partner as HBO Declines Renewal Deal

SESAME STREET is on the lookout for a new partner as HBO has chosen not to renew its deal with the iconic children’s show. For almost a decade, SESAME STREET has been premiering new episodes on HBO before they air on PBS. However, Warner Bros. Discovery has confirmed that they will not be renewing the agreement for original episodes, although they will keep select library rights for the show.

In simple terms, this means that HBO and Max will no longer be airing new episodes of SESAME STREET. Instead, they will continue to have previous episodes from the show on the streaming service until 2027. Max expressed that while it was a great experience working on the show, they have decided to focus more on stories for adults and families based on consumer feedback.

Despite this decision, Sesame Workshop, the organization behind SESAME STREET, is excited to extend its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery and keep the show’s iconic library available on Max until 2027. They are committed to investing in top-notch programming and are looking forward to revealing their new distribution plans in the coming months to ensure that SESAME STREET continues to reach as many children as possible for years to come.

The choice not to renew the agreement doesn’t come as a shock. During a recent Wall Street conference, JB Perrette, head of streaming and video games at WBD, explained that the company is currently not prioritizing children’s content due to the plethora of other offerings that are already well-established and appealing to users. This decision reflects the company’s current focus on other investment categories.

In the meantime, if you’re a fan of SESAME STREET, rest assured that the show’s library will still be available on HBO Max for a few more years. Keep an eye out for updates on the show’s future and where you’ll be able to catch new episodes in the coming months.