Netflix has moved to shore up its preschool offer by taking Sesame Street global, with a new season launching on 10 November alongside more than 90 hours of library episodes.
The agreement follows Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision not to renew its deal with Sesame Workshop.
New research from Ampere Analysis suggests the move is Netflix’s most strategic in children’s entertainment to date, reinforcing its family credentials with one of TV’s most trusted brands.
Ampere notes that familiar IP remains the engine of kids’ viewing: between H1 2021 and H1 2025, major US commissioners released over 400 TV seasons drawn from franchises, accounting for 47% of Scripted Children & Family commissions. Sesame Street led the field over that period with 16 new seasons across the core show and spin-offs.
Christen Tamisin, Senior Analyst at Ampere Analysis, said the franchise will be “a welcome addition to the Netflix catalogue, providing quality programming for a key demographic with a high likelihood of engagement,” adding that brand recognition remains crucial for parents when choosing content.
On Netflix, shows built on established brands feature regularly in the US Kids Top 10, aided by recognition and discovery. While the service has previously leaned on YouTube breakouts such as Cocomelon, Ms Rachel and Bebefinn, Sesame Street marks a further shift towards long-running TV IP parents already trust.
With Cocomelon set to move to Disney+ in 2027, Ampere says Sesame Street can help plug a key gap and sustain engagement in the preschool segment.
Sesame Street remained on PBS when HBO picked up first-run rights in January 2016. Under the 2025 Netflix deal new episodes are set to run day-and-date on PBS in the United States.
