HBO Max and Sesame Workshop Announce New Content Partnership Cementing a Shared Commitment to Kids and Families
New Seasons of Sesame Street to Premiere on HBO Max Starting in 2020; Fans Will have Access to 50-Year Library of Sesame Street for the First Time Ever
Multiple New Projects Include A New Elmo-Hosted Talk Show, A New Animated Sesame Street Spin-off Series, New Annual Specials, A New Season of Esme & Roy, a New Family Docuseries, and More
LOS ANGELES – October 3, 2019 – HBO Max solidifies its commitment to kids’ and family programming announcing today an expansive partnership with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit media and educational organization, to bring four new series and five new seasons of Sesame Street, annual specials, as well as its historic 50-year library, to HBO Max, scheduled to launch in spring of 2020. Beginning with season 51, Sesame Street will premiere on HBO Max and then continue to air for free on PBS KIDS. Newly commissioned HBO Max content will also be made available to PBS KIDS after premiering on HBO Max. HBO will continue to air Sesame Street through season 50.
The new content includes:
- Five new 35-episode seasons of Sesame Street
- New annual Sesame Street specials, kicking off with The Monster at the End of This Show, an animated version of the acclaimed The Monster at the End of this Book
- A family-centric live-action take on a late-night talk show, The Not Too Late Show with Elmo—featuring Sesame Street’s celebrity friends
- A new season of the award-winning animated Esme & Roy, as well as the previous season
- Two new animated series, the first a spin-off of Sesame Street called Mecha Builders (working title), featuring favorite Sesame Street characters as heroes in a robot-animation style; and the second series to be announced at a later date
- A new docuseries that will explore key issues for kids and families, building off Sesame Workshop’s expertise in tackling difficult issues from a child’s perspective
A Sesame Street hub will help families and fans access all-things-Sesame on demand, including:
- Character-driven short-form collections so young viewers can easily access their favorite content
- A broad collection of Sesame Street episodes selected from the past 50 years – many available to the public on-demand for the first time ever
- The Sesame Street spinoff, The Furchester Hotel
“Sesame Street is, and always has been, the gold standard for children’s programming, and we’re thrilled that Sesame Workshop chose HBO Max as its new partner,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-To-Consumer. “This brand is synonymous with quality and integrity, not to mention that nothing is more important than educating young new minds. This landmark deal perfectly illustrates the type of quality programming HBO Max will offer across every demographic.”
“The scope of our partnership with Sesame Workshop is unprecedented,” said Kevin Reilly, Chief Content Officer, HBO Max, and President, TBS, TNT, and truTV. “The beloved Sesame Street characters and these incredible new shows will be ambassadors for our service and the cornerstone of HBO Max’s extensive kids’ offering.”
“As we celebrate 50 years of Sesame Street and look to the future, we are thrilled to enter into this powerful partnership with HBO Max and their growing offering of best-in-class content,” said Steve Youngwood, Sesame Workshop’s President of Media and Education and Chief Operating Officer. “Producing this broad slate will help us deliver on our mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We are also excited about partnering with WarnerMedia and AT&T as we seek ways to expand Sesame Workshop’s impact around the world.”
“Sesame Street is the longest-running and most impactful kids’ program in television history,” said Sandra Dewey, President of Business Operations and Productions, HBO Max, TNT, TBS and truTV. “It is with great anticipation and pleasure that we join Sesame Workshop in carrying that storied legacy forward, both with the continuation of Sesame Street, and also in partnership on a broad spectrum of new content projects and social impact initiatives.”
The initial partnership is domestic only; Sesame Workshop and WarnerMedia will explore expanding globally as HBO Max grows. In addition, the two organizations will look for ways to expand the reach of Sesame Workshop’s social impact content as well as developing and distributing interactive educational experiences. Sesame Street will continue to be available to every child in America for free on PBS KIDS.
About HBO Max
HBO Max is WarnerMedia’s direct-to-consumer offering debuting in spring 2020. With 10,000 hours of curated premium content anticipated at launch, HBO Max will offer powerhouse programming for everyone in the home, bringing together HBO, a robust slate of new original series, key third-party licensed programs and movies, and fan favorites from Warner Bros., New Line, DC, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes and more. Sign up for updates at HBOMax.com.
About WarnerMedia
WarnerMedia is a leading media and entertainment company that creates and distributes premium and popular content from a diverse array of talented storytellers and journalists to global audiences through its consumer brands including: HBO, HBO Now, HBO Max, Warner Bros., TNT, TBS, truTV, CNN, DC, New Line, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others. Warner Media is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T).
About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit media and educational organization behind Sesame Street, the pioneering television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969. Today, Sesame Workshop is an innovative force for change, with a mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We’re present in more than 150 countries, serving vulnerable children through a wide range of media, formal education, and philanthropically-funded social impact programs, each grounded in rigorous research and tailored to the needs and cultures of the communities we serve. For more information, please visit sesameworkshop.org.
