(NewsNation) — Netflix has announced a new streaming deal with the popular children’s staple “Sesame Street” while keeping it on its long-standing home, PBS, at the same time.
New episodes will run on Netflix, PBS and the PBS Kids app on the same day later this year. No specific premiere date was announced. Select past episodes will be available on Netflix worldwide.
The change for the over-50-year-old show comes after Warner Bros. Discovery, which had aired the show since 2016, decided last year not to renew its deal for new episodes that air on HBO and Max, though episodes will remain there until 2027.
For Season 56, episodes will revolve around one 11-minute story, the Netflix release said. The episodes will be released in three batches.
Sal Perez, the show’s executive producer and a Sesame Workshop vice president, told The Associated Press that segments on the new season will be longer and “really focused on character,” while also focusing on its audience’s emotional well-being and development.
The new season will also feature more exploration of the “Sesame Street” neighborhood and a look inside the legendary two-story brownstone at 123 Sesame Street that houses Elmo, Bert and Ernie.
“Sesame Street” has been shown in more than 150 countries.
The deal comes as the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency has threatened PBS’ funding over accusations that the company produces “systemically biased content.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.