Sesame Street to stream on Netflix after U.S. cuts funding: Reports

Dubai: Sesame Street is coming to Netflix, following a major shake-up in U.S. public broadcasting, according to the BBC.

The streaming giant has signed a deal to carry the long-running children's show after U.S. President Donald Trump cut federal funding for PBS, the network that has aired Sesame Street for over 50 years.

The move also comes after Warner Bros. Discovery—owner of HBO—chose not to renew its existing agreement with the show.

Netflix praised Sesame Street as a “beloved cornerstone of children’s media” and confirmed it will stream a brand-new season later this year, along with 90 hours of classic episodes, to its 300 million global subscribers. Importantly, the show will still be available on PBS, which will receive episodes the same day they appear on Netflix.

The future of Sesame Street had been uncertain after Trump signed an executive order this month to block federal funding to PBS and NPR, accusing both of “biased and partisan news coverage.”

In response, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ended a long-running program that funded children’s content, including Sesame Street.

Created in 1969 by Lloyd Morrisett and Joan Ganz Cooney, Sesame Street was built on research from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and aimed to combine learning with entertainment.

Working with Muppets creator Jim Henson, the team introduced a now-iconic cast of characters—like Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster—on a set designed to reflect a real urban street.

Over the decades, Sesame Street has become more than just a show. In 2006, during a nationwide obesity crisis, the show aired health-focused segments where Cookie Monster famously declared that cookies were a “sometimes food.” Michelle Obama also filmed an episode promoting healthy eating during her time as First Lady.

Netflix is increasingly prioritizing children’s programming, which now accounts for 15% of its overall viewership.