HBO shouldn't recommend 'Sesame Street' it kind of fell off after it stop showing and you shouldn't put a price on it the kids now of days watch more Realistic Show. It's gone be a waist of time . 20th century looking for new things kids catch on quicker then they use to they can tell a a puppet from real character. I suggest we keep big bird where he has been all this time.
Some folks have to brush up on math. HBO says they'll produce 35 episodes half-hour episodes which is LESS content that the current 18 one-hour episodes being produced each year.
4
Public Television used to beg for more money from the Federal Government by suggesting that Congress was trying to kill Big Bird. They claimed that without an increased stipend Big Bird would be taken off the air. Guess that was a lie.
1
Big Bird was threatened with being taken off the air. HBO partnering with them is besides the point. At the time they had no idea the owners of HBO would even be interested.
2
I shared a cab one time with an executive at PBS when I was a brand-new hire at WETA-TV, then located at Howard University. Sesame Street was brand new back then. To make conversation on our long drive, I naïvely asked how on she thought the inner-city (read "ghetto") setting of the show would play in the white suburbs that were then (and frankly still are) the focus of public television. She laughed and changed the subject. Of course I loved the show but I always was a little mystified by its popularity. It seems the show has come full circle, from making surburban mothers and their kids feel less threatened by, while somehow condescendingly superior to, inner city Kids of Color to making surburban mothers and their kids feel less threatened by, while somehow condescendingly superior to, inner city Kids of Color, this time while paying for the experience by upgrading to premium cable.
1
As has been noted in many of these comments, the Sesame Street of today is a pale imitation of its former self, so don't spend too much effort mourning it.
What confuses me is how PBS uses Fred Rogers to market themselves, with lines like "Everything I need to know I learned from Mr. Rogers", and yet his wholesome worthwhile show is nowhere to be found on PBS or on its web site.
Every single episode should be available to the public on demand, and now. We need Fred more than ever these days.
What confuses me is how PBS uses Fred Rogers to market themselves, with lines like "Everything I need to know I learned from Mr. Rogers", and yet his wholesome worthwhile show is nowhere to be found on PBS or on its web site.
Every single episode should be available to the public on demand, and now. We need Fred more than ever these days.
8
Sesame Street can replay its relatively few episodes because kids like repetition and they age out of such shows. But, seriously, shows such as Super WHY!, Word World, Sid The Science Kid, Dinosaur Train, and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood blow Sesame Street out of the water when it comes to educational content. My sons liked the Sesame Street characters, but they were glued to the other shows I mentioned. Super WHY! was extremely effective in helping them learn the letters and the sounds they make. A million thanks to Angela Santomero, Becky Friedman and the other brilliant creators and writers of these shows.
2
So as one commenter stated, Mitt git it right. HBO will use SS to brand its channel. "One suggestion was to cast Bert and Ernie as the stars of the next season of “True Detective,” HBO’s dark crime drama. "
Is that what SS is devolving into?
Where is the future of PBS if one of its most iconic properties is owned by another distributor? Although I will continue send some money to PBS, I think its programming has much diminished. We need alternatives to what is on the "public" airwaves.
Is that what SS is devolving into?
Where is the future of PBS if one of its most iconic properties is owned by another distributor? Although I will continue send some money to PBS, I think its programming has much diminished. We need alternatives to what is on the "public" airwaves.
1
Sesame Street sold out its mission a long time ago, as other commenters have already noted. It*s now just a way for the *talent* to show how hip and cool and clever they are.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, children who need what the original Sesame Street was created to give them aren't getting to learn their letters and numbers with gentle, repetitive reinforcement, or to learn to sit and hold ideas for more than a fraction of a minute, or to be exposed to people like them speaking standard English as though, you know, it came naturally to them...
Children*s program on PBS has just been another segment of the marketing-to-kids behemoth, as the *Tickle-Me-Elmo* craze illustrated most starkly.
How about bringing back *Lamb Chop*s Play Along*? I was thrilled to have Shari Lewis redux just after my own child was born. Her gentle but sly humor and her nurturing presence are much more of what kids really need. But hey. It*s never about the kids, really, is it?
Meanwhile, back in the real world, children who need what the original Sesame Street was created to give them aren't getting to learn their letters and numbers with gentle, repetitive reinforcement, or to learn to sit and hold ideas for more than a fraction of a minute, or to be exposed to people like them speaking standard English as though, you know, it came naturally to them...
Children*s program on PBS has just been another segment of the marketing-to-kids behemoth, as the *Tickle-Me-Elmo* craze illustrated most starkly.
How about bringing back *Lamb Chop*s Play Along*? I was thrilled to have Shari Lewis redux just after my own child was born. Her gentle but sly humor and her nurturing presence are much more of what kids really need. But hey. It*s never about the kids, really, is it?
6
I'm glad that HBO has extended an offer to continue Sesame Street, but sad that PBS cannot afford to or will not take care of it's business.
I lay the first blame on the never ending cuts directed toward the Federal funding mechanisms used to support public broadcasting. if you are a Republican or a Third Way Type- I'm pointing right at you. Our country wastes more money on never built Defense projects than we spend from all sources on Public Broadcasting.
I lay the second blame on the people at PBS and CPB who seem more interested in courting corporate underwriters and dumbing down content from the original mandate in an ever more disturbing creep toward commercial television. Public TV is not supposed to be about mass audiences- it is supposed to be a place for the important stuff that mass media will never offer. We can use less Britcoms and Costume Dramas and find the next generation of people like Bill Moyers.
Third, for all the money spent of public broadcasting, why does PBS not get a cut of the merchandising money? I'm sure all those Elmo dolls and such threw off considerable cash.
There are countless kids who I've in homes that cannot see HBO but can see PBS. Educational programming should come first at PBS- not Downton Abbey.
Finally, why can't taxpayers have a check off box on 1040's that allow us to vote money for PBS like we currently do for Presidential Campaigns? I think citizens would be more generous in funding public broadcasting than Congress.
I lay the first blame on the never ending cuts directed toward the Federal funding mechanisms used to support public broadcasting. if you are a Republican or a Third Way Type- I'm pointing right at you. Our country wastes more money on never built Defense projects than we spend from all sources on Public Broadcasting.
I lay the second blame on the people at PBS and CPB who seem more interested in courting corporate underwriters and dumbing down content from the original mandate in an ever more disturbing creep toward commercial television. Public TV is not supposed to be about mass audiences- it is supposed to be a place for the important stuff that mass media will never offer. We can use less Britcoms and Costume Dramas and find the next generation of people like Bill Moyers.
Third, for all the money spent of public broadcasting, why does PBS not get a cut of the merchandising money? I'm sure all those Elmo dolls and such threw off considerable cash.
There are countless kids who I've in homes that cannot see HBO but can see PBS. Educational programming should come first at PBS- not Downton Abbey.
Finally, why can't taxpayers have a check off box on 1040's that allow us to vote money for PBS like we currently do for Presidential Campaigns? I think citizens would be more generous in funding public broadcasting than Congress.
14
HBO is no stranger to kids programming. HBO aired Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock in the US. Basically, it looks HBO is getting a 9-month exclusivity period in exchange for funding 100% more episodes. And PBS will then air them for free at the end of the 9-month period. Maybe HBO will improve the show, which, in my opinion, has significantly declined since the decision to devote half the show to "Elmo's World."
4
SO much for a "nonprofit" 's mission
"....Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit group behind the children’s television program, has struck a five-year deal with HBO, ..."
"....Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit group behind the children’s television program, has struck a five-year deal with HBO, ..."
4
With any luck this will lay the groundwork for future Sesame Street-Game of Thrones crossovers and spin-offs. How will Westeros welcome it's new muppet overlords?
Seriously, though. . . seriously? Tread carefully PBS, or you will lose membership and contributions to HBO.
Seriously, though. . . seriously? Tread carefully PBS, or you will lose membership and contributions to HBO.
4
I think one point brought out by this article is being missed: less than ten percent of the money needed to produce Sesame Street come from the Public Broadcasting Network and its contributors. The remainder for years came from VHS and then DVD sales. Now that people have gone to streaming TV, Netflix, Amazon, and other similar services, those revenues have dramatically dropped. My understanding is that if HBO had not stepped in and taken up production of Sesame Street, the show would eventually died. I would rather this than have it gone. And contrary to the views of many posters, I do not believe HBO will try to make the show anything other than what it already is. As for the risk to kids of having access to HBO, parents do have control over the TV--use it.
6
The perfect tribute to inequality. Even pre-schoolers can be 2nd class citizens. A sad day indeed.
8
And, Romney was right again.
Go figure.
Go figure.
2
Perhaps Greedy Monster got tired of giving it away for free all those years. P is for Profit!
At least now Sesame Street can gentrify. Ernie and Bert can move out of that dingy basement into a co-op uptown; Oscar can spread out in his own dumpster. Mr. Hooper's store can become a Whole Foods (better than a Wal-mart).
At least now Sesame Street can gentrify. Ernie and Bert can move out of that dingy basement into a co-op uptown; Oscar can spread out in his own dumpster. Mr. Hooper's store can become a Whole Foods (better than a Wal-mart).
3
Can't imagine what all the fuss is about. Here you have an iconic program that is increasing its production output from 3.5 weeks a year to 7. The rest, no matter where they're broadcast, will be reruns. And the show will still be run on PBS, where, by simple math, 48.5 weeks a year are reruns anyway. Bleeding hearts should get a grip. They could start over with show #1 from 1969 and today's kids would see them as brand new, because anything you haven't seen is new to you. Disney has made a fortune by re-releasing its classic films decade after decade to new audiences. The age range for viewers of Sesame Street is, or ought to be, finite.
3
Now that it's on HBO, can the violence, profanity and nudity be far behind? (Though I guess most of the Muppets are already nude.)
1
Like all things American the folks who control and work for PBS programs want to join their fellow "journalists" in the top 1% global financial elite and tap into the "advertising" and promotional money they control. The smell of money can overrule all the other senses when you want to be socially "in". Don't people realize that sharks keep eating right down the ladder until there is no one left? Then they eat the ladder. No thanks. I don't have any desire to be "in".
After many years of shrinkage the PBS primetime schedule is now largely dependent of reruns of overseas television. Now the reruns have come to daytime. The problem is with PBS not HBO.
1
Correction: the problem is with the lack of support for PBS.
From the announcement: "All new series will also be made available to PBS and its member stations after the first window. Episodes of Sesame Street will continue to be made available, uninterrupted, as part of the PBS KIDS service on PBS member stations."
All of the kids that can watch Sesame Street now will still be able to watch Sesame Street after this deal. PBS also benefits by getting Sesame Street for free.
On the other hand, without this deal, kids would never get to see the additional 17 episodes per year that Sesame Workshop can now afford to make.
I think Sesame Workshop made the right decision. If you're upset, the proper response is to work to reverse funding cuts for public media. Don't blame Sesame Workshop or HBO for making the best of a bad situation. Blame the Republicans who created the bad situation.
All of the kids that can watch Sesame Street now will still be able to watch Sesame Street after this deal. PBS also benefits by getting Sesame Street for free.
On the other hand, without this deal, kids would never get to see the additional 17 episodes per year that Sesame Workshop can now afford to make.
I think Sesame Workshop made the right decision. If you're upset, the proper response is to work to reverse funding cuts for public media. Don't blame Sesame Workshop or HBO for making the best of a bad situation. Blame the Republicans who created the bad situation.
9
Yes, kids will have access to re-runs of HBO-first shows later in the year but they will no longer have access to SS on Netflix or Amazon. That means either the kids watch the episodes on PBS tv or the 4-per week re-hashed episodes on their streaming channel if they don't want to pay for HBO or HBO Go.
3
So I guess the options for my kids are:
1. I fork over $180 per year for an HBO subscription that I don't need for anything else nor do I want my children to have access to for the largely explicit material shown on this channel. Or,
2. They watch a total of 4 re-hashed episodes on PBSkids since the shows won't be available on Amazon or Netflix (I have subscriptions).
If I end up paying HBO, I guess PBS can kiss goodbye my contributions. If that's the way others think, PBS will might no longer exist. I'm certainly not going to contribute in order to watch Downton Abbey.
1. I fork over $180 per year for an HBO subscription that I don't need for anything else nor do I want my children to have access to for the largely explicit material shown on this channel. Or,
2. They watch a total of 4 re-hashed episodes on PBSkids since the shows won't be available on Amazon or Netflix (I have subscriptions).
If I end up paying HBO, I guess PBS can kiss goodbye my contributions. If that's the way others think, PBS will might no longer exist. I'm certainly not going to contribute in order to watch Downton Abbey.
3
1. You don't have to.
2. PBS Kids shows new episodes now, and will continue to do so. Since there will be more new episodes, PBS Kids will show more new episodes every year, not fewer.
3. PBS will still show Sesame Street on actual TV, after a 9-month delay. Kids that age don't care whether shows are new. I certainly didn't when I was watching years-old VHS tapes of Sesame Street and the Muppet Show. Since there will be more new episodes produced, PBS will show more new episodes per year, not fewer.
Keep contributing to PBS, don't subscribe to HBO if you don't want to, and thank HBO for funding Sesame Street at zero cost to you and to PBS.
2. PBS Kids shows new episodes now, and will continue to do so. Since there will be more new episodes, PBS Kids will show more new episodes every year, not fewer.
3. PBS will still show Sesame Street on actual TV, after a 9-month delay. Kids that age don't care whether shows are new. I certainly didn't when I was watching years-old VHS tapes of Sesame Street and the Muppet Show. Since there will be more new episodes produced, PBS will show more new episodes per year, not fewer.
Keep contributing to PBS, don't subscribe to HBO if you don't want to, and thank HBO for funding Sesame Street at zero cost to you and to PBS.
9
Must be true. Everyone and everything has a price. Once again OUR public dollars created Sesame Street and now the privateers are taking it over for personal gain. Welcome to 3rd world America where only the financial elite reap the benefits of society and government and the rest of us get the throwaways WE paid for with OUR consumer, 401k and tax dollars.. HBO will probably get the OUR government money to produce "children's learning television". What a joke. It's getting harder and harder to love America - land taken over by insatiable greed with zero social conscience.
3
Sesame Street was such a special part of my childhood in the 1970s. I'm glad to see it continuing, but will always be nostalgic for what it once was.
3
This is such a bad idea! I get how HBO's money must look to SS producers - they will now have the budget to match their creativity. However, a by-product of this relationship will, in essence, create a two-tier system where those kids whose parents can afford it, will get to see content first. Repackaged content... really? How relevant will the guest stars and news parodies feel nine months later? Plus this seems like a huge conflict of interest where an organization committed to producing content for a public broadcaster is now partnering with a private one.
5
Years ago Sesame Street was fabulous. It painlessly taught young children how to read and simple mathematics. My son loved it and learned to read at an astonishingly young age.
Recently, I encouraged my granddaughter to watch it. I was hugely disappointed. Today's Sesame Street is entirely without structure, an essential quality for toddlers. One suspects it is produced by a team of ADD sufferers. It no longer teaches the alphabet, phonetics, numbers, etc. in an organized way. Also, the old Sesame Street repeated material using entertaining variations to reinforce key concepts. This too is lost in the chaos.
In striving to be hip, it has fogetten its fundamental mission.
I tried to buy the "old" Sesame Street seasons as DVDs but they are unavailable. Apparently, petty contractual issues prevent their release. It breaks my heart.
Recently, I encouraged my granddaughter to watch it. I was hugely disappointed. Today's Sesame Street is entirely without structure, an essential quality for toddlers. One suspects it is produced by a team of ADD sufferers. It no longer teaches the alphabet, phonetics, numbers, etc. in an organized way. Also, the old Sesame Street repeated material using entertaining variations to reinforce key concepts. This too is lost in the chaos.
In striving to be hip, it has fogetten its fundamental mission.
I tried to buy the "old" Sesame Street seasons as DVDs but they are unavailable. Apparently, petty contractual issues prevent their release. It breaks my heart.
6
My kids are in their late 20s, so I can't remember if Sesame Street's programming is seasonal - i.e. if it parallels the holidays and seasons throughout the year.
if it does, though, then the public shows will be 9 months out of sync. Fourth of July in April, leaves falling in July, Thanksgiving in August, etc.
That would be a shame. Underprivileged kids have enough trouble understanding the world beyond their own circumstances. With this move, one more obstacle is being placed in their way.
if it does, though, then the public shows will be 9 months out of sync. Fourth of July in April, leaves falling in July, Thanksgiving in August, etc.
That would be a shame. Underprivileged kids have enough trouble understanding the world beyond their own circumstances. With this move, one more obstacle is being placed in their way.
5
Betcha other PBS shows will be announcing other strategies to stay afloat. There is little on PBS anymore but reruns and rentals from BBC. How sad, the dumbing down of the U.S.
3
Somehow the dinosaurs at HBO and the cable cabals believe that by extorting fees from five year olds will turn those children into lifelong subscribers. How they can so stunningly misjudge their declining position in the media world is a continuing source of amazement.The wonderful thing about children up to a certain age is that they can watch the same eight episodes of Sesame Street over and over and over again and not care a bit about whether they are seeing the latest episodes.
Like many developing countries that simply skipped the landline era and went directly to mobile, today's generation is by-passing the central element to the HBO/cable strategy -- instant gratification. I don't need to see the new season of whatever from HBO. Maybe in a couple of years I'll see it on Netflix, or maybe not. Game of Thrones, huh? Breaking Bad? Haven't seen any of it, maybe never will.
As far as Sesame Street goes, "brought to you by the letters HBO" is a joke.
Like many developing countries that simply skipped the landline era and went directly to mobile, today's generation is by-passing the central element to the HBO/cable strategy -- instant gratification. I don't need to see the new season of whatever from HBO. Maybe in a couple of years I'll see it on Netflix, or maybe not. Game of Thrones, huh? Breaking Bad? Haven't seen any of it, maybe never will.
As far as Sesame Street goes, "brought to you by the letters HBO" is a joke.
1
I understand in principle why people are upset about this, but Sesame Street isn't the kind of show that will be ruined by spoilers, that is so topical it will become irrelevant within nine months, or that has to be watched sequentially. Yes, some kids will have to wait for new episodes, but then they will get to watch 35 episodes instead of 18, and the show will not be in danger of shutting down for financial reasons. As far as I can tell, that's a great thing.
4
This is great, but taxpayer money has helped over many decades to build this brand, and now HBO profits???
How come there wasn't some negotiator sitting in for the public and for the government to get a better deal on this. Maybe it should've been handed over to Donald Trump for his negotiating powers.
How come there wasn't some negotiator sitting in for the public and for the government to get a better deal on this. Maybe it should've been handed over to Donald Trump for his negotiating powers.
From US News, 10/11/12:
"Republican lawmakers have once again struck up the drumbeat to de-fund the Public Broadcasting Service. Big Bird 'is always going to be on TV,' they argue, regardless of whether or not the federal government helps support public broadcasting."
Yes, I guess Big Bird is "always" going to be on TV. And it is all part of the GOP plan to privatize what it is public and to rob the poor to aggrandize the rich. Hint: Rich Ebeneezer Scrooge Republicans don't like to pay taxes to support other people's children, and it is pretty clear they don't even like children.
So kids, if your parents are rich--or at least not strapped for cash on a daily basis--you will be able to see first-run Sesame Street shows for 5 years on pay-to-play HBO. But, if you had the misfortune to be born into a poor or struggling family (maybe one mom or dad works for a cheesy cheap corporation like Walmart that pays below subsistence wages), then you can just wait your turn to watch Sesame Street reruns on socialist public television.
Also, studies show that Sesame Street has been popular and effective for poor children. We can't have that for those little "Takers." No government preschool funding either.
You want to get ahead in life, kids? Do it the old fashioned way--wait for that promised rich people's money to trickle down, like the rest of us, or pray.
"Republican lawmakers have once again struck up the drumbeat to de-fund the Public Broadcasting Service. Big Bird 'is always going to be on TV,' they argue, regardless of whether or not the federal government helps support public broadcasting."
Yes, I guess Big Bird is "always" going to be on TV. And it is all part of the GOP plan to privatize what it is public and to rob the poor to aggrandize the rich. Hint: Rich Ebeneezer Scrooge Republicans don't like to pay taxes to support other people's children, and it is pretty clear they don't even like children.
So kids, if your parents are rich--or at least not strapped for cash on a daily basis--you will be able to see first-run Sesame Street shows for 5 years on pay-to-play HBO. But, if you had the misfortune to be born into a poor or struggling family (maybe one mom or dad works for a cheesy cheap corporation like Walmart that pays below subsistence wages), then you can just wait your turn to watch Sesame Street reruns on socialist public television.
Also, studies show that Sesame Street has been popular and effective for poor children. We can't have that for those little "Takers." No government preschool funding either.
You want to get ahead in life, kids? Do it the old fashioned way--wait for that promised rich people's money to trickle down, like the rest of us, or pray.
4
How do you spell "crying shame", children? It's spelled "Sesame Street". And today we are going to learn about the role of dollars in ruling our lives. What, you don't have enough dollars? Then you are not watching this show - try watching cartoons, if you can find any, or go play in the pantry.
4
For those who ask, "What's the problem?", here's the problem: Our government would rather pay farmers not to grow things, give local police military weaponry and donate our money to incompetent investment banks rather than fund educational television for children. That's the problem.
30
True, but that's a problem with the people and their elected officials, not Sesame Workshop or HBO.
Let's place the responsibility for the mess we're in where it belongs: The cult of selfishness that pervades American politics and culture.
The leaders of that cult and their rented politicians hate Sesame Street specifically, and public broadcasting as a whole, precisely because it opposes that cult's ideology. By encouraging sharing, caring and honesty, Sesame Street provides an antidote to the "Greed is Good" culture of selfishness. That's why conservatives so relentlessly cut funding for public media.
Let's place the responsibility for the mess we're in where it belongs: The cult of selfishness that pervades American politics and culture.
The leaders of that cult and their rented politicians hate Sesame Street specifically, and public broadcasting as a whole, precisely because it opposes that cult's ideology. By encouraging sharing, caring and honesty, Sesame Street provides an antidote to the "Greed is Good" culture of selfishness. That's why conservatives so relentlessly cut funding for public media.
1
My kids grew up watching sesame street and I now occasionally watch with my grandkids. It is a shadow of what it was. I guess I am happy HBO has saved it per se but I just don't know. The show now seems to focus on characters they can market like abbie ka dabbie. It's definitely not the same and I don't think the underserved kids or any kids are getting any where near what they got in then 80's and 90's
12
The children who can benefit the most from Sesame Street will not be watching HBO. The kids with access to HBO already have SS on their ipads.
11
My contributions to PBS, to the tune of approximately $120 per year, and those of others have come to nothing, it seems. What a dilemma... do I continue to contribute to PBS or stop throwing my money at a very worthwhile but ultimately futile/dying cause? How many others are thinking like me, I wonder.
8
As you can see here, PBS contributed only a small portion of the costs of SS production (10%). Most of the funding has come through merchandising tie ins. PBS could not afford to pay more. SS would have become financially unsustainable. The exclusive content thing is for only 9 months. Someone said that would make it out of sync with the seasons. This is not true. One would just put the new stuff a little later to make it match the seasons (ie one year later). There will also be twice as many episodes. This is no different than the difference between business and coach or in fact perhaps the more appropriate model is buying a speed pass at an amusement park. Life is unfair but someone has to pay the bill
Still contribute and use your voice to inform other voters who's behind erosion of funds for PBS and NPR.
Consider the amount that the federal government pays on Head Start programs and Dept of Education. Then consider the funding cuts for PBS programming that reaches into every home with a television, rabbit ears and a digital converter box. I was first exposed to phonics via Sesame Street, well before starting school. I'm not opposed to this deal because I'm glad that SS will be better funded, but I do think that this form of toddler/preschool public education is a good investment of our tax dollars.
6
Does it feel wrong? Absolutely. But where is the money going to come from --this Congress? Kids are losing out on every front -- sub-par schools, some of them without music, art, or physical education classes. Teachers paid so little they qualify for food stamps. Fewer teachers' aides to assist kids who are really struggling in the classroom.
So sure, be upset about this. But if we're setting things right, I've got a few things I'd put further up the list.
So sure, be upset about this. But if we're setting things right, I've got a few things I'd put further up the list.
10
DVD sales might be going down, but what about the toys, clothes, sneakers, backpack/lunch boxes, crafts all bearing their likeness?
Somebody is making money
Somebody is making money
1
Why is there a need to exclude non cable, non streaming (read POOR) children from the current episodes for the first nine months? Is it because HBO families demand exclusivity? Is it because sponsors do? Speaking of which, is HBO going to make certain that all commercial content is of age appropriate, healthy material. OR, is this a ploy for a bigger child aged consumer market. I fail to see the plus side to this. I believe Sesame Street sold out. It will be their downfall.
3
More of the camel of inequality is slipping in under the tent. People can talk about a larger and more secure stream of funding and of kids happy with old shows, but this change in delivery of the show divides the audience into those who have [cable] and those who have not.
9
Sesame used to make over 100 episodes a year, back in the day. Due to financial constraints, they were down to 18, not even enough for each letter of the alphabet. This deal will allow for broader curricula to be covered, and for the brilliant, creative minds at the workshop to brainstorm the next innovations in children's programming instead of spending time darning their holey socks.
The article quotes endorsements from PBS and from Joan Ganz Cooney, who created the show and Children's Television Workshop. What more could you ask for?
The article quotes endorsements from PBS and from Joan Ganz Cooney, who created the show and Children's Television Workshop. What more could you ask for?
6
PBS is endorsing it because they can't just say they don't have the money to support children's programming, they have to save some face. Children's Television Workshop is getting shows picked up by HBO, why would they not endorse?
I honestly have no idea how I feel about this. On one hand, HBO made a brilliant move getting one of the most popular shows ever to now be shown on their network. On the other hand, when I think of HBO, I think of shows like Game of Thrones. You know, shows that feature frequent brutality and sex. This article made me laugh when I first read it cause I thought it was a joke, but then I realized that it was a serious article. You know what? Actually I know how I feel, this is absolutely hilarious. Think about it, somewhere at some point, a parent who has a basic cable package is gonna have to explain to their friends "Oh yeah we bought the HBO package, now my wife can watch reruns of game of thrones at night and my kids able to watch Elmo and big bird in the morning before school." I just hope this leads to future crossovers between the two. Could you imagine? In that case, Danaerys is no longer my Azor Ahai candidate, it's totally gonna be Snuffaluffagus.
1
‘Sesame Street’ to Air First on HBO for Next 5 Seasons"
How lucky for the kids that can watch it.
How lucky for the kids that can watch it.
6
I grew up watching this show so I'm very happy to see it back on another channel. I hope they extend this show long enough for my kids to enjoy watching it as it was a very influential show for me that surprisingly taught me a lot.
2
Socio-economic over tones aside, this plan truly sounds like something that would've occurred around 30 years ago, with Fraggle Rock being the aforementioned "new educational series for children" mentioned in the article.
This hot breaking story jumped onto my screen as a New York Times buletin or whatever they are called these days. I resent it. That option should be contained for stories that are actually important.
you are woefully uninformed, this is important
JJ, to many of us this is an important story, for lots of reasons. Why do you think it's unimportant, I wonder?
When public money is scarce, these types of partnerships are a key way for Sesame Street style programming to survive. The show would not have partnered with HBO if funds were flowing. I see the benefits outweighing the risks in this model.
4
Thinking about it, my kids loved watching Sesame Street videos with long ago characters. How about bringing back Sesame Street from the very beginning, and giving 2015 kids the joys of Kermit the Frog w/Cookie Monster, Mr Hooper running Mr Hooper's Store, and all the wonderful pre-Elmo stuff?
6
Televison is not good for children, and other living things.
1
What would Jim Henson think?
4
From the Washington "Post" article:
"The result is that Sesame Street — which has long been an educational staple for all Americans, rich or poor — may soon become more of a luxury good than it used to be.”
Pretty much sums it up. In America you get what you can afford, not what you may need.
"The result is that Sesame Street — which has long been an educational staple for all Americans, rich or poor — may soon become more of a luxury good than it used to be.”
Pretty much sums it up. In America you get what you can afford, not what you may need.
14
Uh, you did read the part where it will still air FOR FREE on PBS after the HBO window, right?
3
Why punish children because their parents don't purchase cable. If new episodes are important for some, they are important for all. If HBO really cared about all chidren, they would have made the episodes available on PBS at once.
Smacks of conservative plot to get rid of PBS while pretending to save Sesame Street. After time, it will not be the same.
Smacks of conservative plot to get rid of PBS while pretending to save Sesame Street. After time, it will not be the same.
3
Families won’t be able to access this show daily especially if the family doesn’t have HBO. I doubt parents would buy a subscription to HBO just so that their children can watch Sesame Street. I grew up at a decent time where this show was on PBS and was free. This doesn’t benefit anyone other than HBO itself in terms of money. I highly doubt this transition will be secussful.We'll just have to see how long this will last depending on if they get a decent amount of viewers.
6
It will still be on PBS for free.
1 2 3 4 5, 6 7 8 9 10, 11 12 (do-da, do, do, do, da million dollars, do-da do do do do...)
Given Sesame Street's increasing trend towards guest celebrities to keep parents interested, I would say this is a bad move. Nine months is forever in celebrity time. By that time you could easily be off the A-list if not atop the gossip pile. Imagine HBO airing a Bruce Jenner episode only to have him be someone else by the time it hits PBS? PBS only put the brakes on the "too sexy" Katy Perry episode after it had been produced and announced - will HBO do the same?
2
To all who criticize this move - how much money did you donate to PBS to stop this from happening?
You can't pay for TV shows with good intentions and righteous talk.
You can't pay for TV shows with good intentions and righteous talk.
13
Great: they privatized Kermit.
5
A sad day. The wealthy children get to sit in the front of the bus.
6
Even the innocents aren't safe from the clutches of the Wall St. gang!
2
I'm sad.
3
Really disgusted. How do people who can't afford cable, leave alone HBO, give their kids the 'increased production' benefits of Sesame Street? They don't. HBO Family's huge audience of wealthy 2 to 6 year olds can have the private viewing times of their lives. Nine months later (is this meant to be some horrid pun on gestation periods?), a PBS station will rebirth an episode for most of the country's kids.
When my father, who began life pre-FDR on what would one day become the FDR Drive, the price of first-run movies was so prohibitive, theaters in the neighborhood didn't carry them till many months if not years later, at a cut-rate price. Looks like today's PBS has devolved into a corporate throwback to those pre-New-Deal years.
When my father, who began life pre-FDR on what would one day become the FDR Drive, the price of first-run movies was so prohibitive, theaters in the neighborhood didn't carry them till many months if not years later, at a cut-rate price. Looks like today's PBS has devolved into a corporate throwback to those pre-New-Deal years.
6
You haven't been noticing until now? It's government of the corporations, by the for corporations and for the corporations. Who (Which 501c4s) do you think are financing most of the big political campaigns!
1
I watched years-old VHS tapes of Sesame Street and the Muppet Show over and over and over as a kid. We didn't even have a PBS station. Getting brand-new episodes for free online or, if we'd had a broadcast station, after nine months over the air would have been a massive improvement.
It's not just marketing speak. Timing really does not matter to Sesame Street-aged kids. If they like something, they don't care how new it is. If they don't like something... they also don't care how new it is.
This is a great deal for Sesame Street, HBO and PBS. I save my criticism for the actual bad actors: The right-wing anti-public-media lobby.
It's not just marketing speak. Timing really does not matter to Sesame Street-aged kids. If they like something, they don't care how new it is. If they don't like something... they also don't care how new it is.
This is a great deal for Sesame Street, HBO and PBS. I save my criticism for the actual bad actors: The right-wing anti-public-media lobby.
Class warfare at it's finest
6
There is no earthly reason for PBS stations to exist. Notice I said PBS stations, not PBS. There are now some 350 over-the-air PBS stations, reaching very few people. Many of them employ bloated staffs of executives, administrators and technicians whose fundamental job it is to decide whether Sesame Street will run at 10:00 or 11:00, and make that happen. All these stations should be shuttered. To the extent they produce local programming, move it to cable access. Move the programming to cable and satellite on a must carry basis. For families who want PBS but cannot afford or do not want anything else on cable, contract with cable and satellite providers to give them PBS-only service for free. You'll be surprised how few will actually want it when push comes to shove, and the cost in any event will be far less than operating 350 television stations that run essentially the same stuff. Maybe the savings would allow PBS to produce more than 18 slates of Sesame Street a year!
3
As I started reading the comments, (195 as of now), I was astonished at the total OVER reaction by so many.
No one is being denied free access to Sesame Street. That some kids might wait nine months is a problem? What? This is Sesame Street, not some continuing mystery where you don't want to find out the ending beforehand.
You could start a kid on show number 1 from 1969 and they would learn just as much.
That Sesame Workshop is going to produce twice as many shows, and come out with new material in addition is great. Yes, there is a lot of horrible, terrible examples of corporate greed out there, but this is not one of those examples.
Yes, HBO will make some more money on it, but the truth is, with more material coming their way from the Sesame Workshop, the real winners here will be the kids.
Calm down everyone.
No one is being denied free access to Sesame Street. That some kids might wait nine months is a problem? What? This is Sesame Street, not some continuing mystery where you don't want to find out the ending beforehand.
You could start a kid on show number 1 from 1969 and they would learn just as much.
That Sesame Workshop is going to produce twice as many shows, and come out with new material in addition is great. Yes, there is a lot of horrible, terrible examples of corporate greed out there, but this is not one of those examples.
Yes, HBO will make some more money on it, but the truth is, with more material coming their way from the Sesame Workshop, the real winners here will be the kids.
Calm down everyone.
11
I don't think people read the entire article... Or if they did comprehended what this will mean for the expanded content creation coming out of the Sesame NFP group.. This is an amazing deal for everyone. Pbs gets millions in its back since they no longer are going to fund another not for profit AND they still get to air the TV show... For free... For free people... Pbs is getting the most popular children's TV for free! Yay!!! Maybe with the millions that they USED to give to Sesame, they can invest in new educational content! Wow! How great will that be?
I can understand why people are upset that poor families will get the episodes 9 months later. To HBO's credit with their investment they are not only saving but also improving and expanding the show. For the first 9 months there will be edited repeats on PBS but after that new content will be broadcasted continually. So in the end your talking about 9 months vs saving, improving, and expanding Seseme Street.
4
I am amazed at the amount of negative reaction to the deal. This deals means
1. More episodes of Sesame Street will be produced with no need for any money from the government and
2. After 9 months it will be available for free on PBS
Yes, the true egalitarians are complaining about the delay but the programs won't be obsolete in 9 months and Sesame Street is constantly being rerun.
The one thing to watch for is if the Sesame Workshop responds to HBO to change the program to attract a wider audience etc.
But it is naive to portray Sesame Street as being pure and uninfluenced by profit motives. It has made a lot money from the marketing of "Tickle Me Elmo" and Big Bird. This deal with HBO is no different
1. More episodes of Sesame Street will be produced with no need for any money from the government and
2. After 9 months it will be available for free on PBS
Yes, the true egalitarians are complaining about the delay but the programs won't be obsolete in 9 months and Sesame Street is constantly being rerun.
The one thing to watch for is if the Sesame Workshop responds to HBO to change the program to attract a wider audience etc.
But it is naive to portray Sesame Street as being pure and uninfluenced by profit motives. It has made a lot money from the marketing of "Tickle Me Elmo" and Big Bird. This deal with HBO is no different
16
And do you agree with this increased consolidation of big business and big money's power over what once was regarded as the social commons? Should everyone pay to play? What about clean water, air, decent housing and transportation. Should those only go to preferred customers?
Used to be free air at the gas stations too. The list goes on and on. Just as CEO's make 126 times the average employee working at their organization I suppose that now the Sesame Street must restructure and fall in line with the rest of the corporate mindset. A new effort towards product branding and celebrity cameos must now be in the works too.
This show will be eclipsed by creative people who feel the betterment of society does not require a bottom line attached. That is how Sesame Street started out and that is exactly how it's successor will begin. The defeatist attitude that HBO or Muppet Inc. own the alphabet and numerical system is silly. And now it looks like really sharing and true friendship will be wide open!
Good Luck to the newest creators of free educational children's television!
This show will be eclipsed by creative people who feel the betterment of society does not require a bottom line attached. That is how Sesame Street started out and that is exactly how it's successor will begin. The defeatist attitude that HBO or Muppet Inc. own the alphabet and numerical system is silly. And now it looks like really sharing and true friendship will be wide open!
Good Luck to the newest creators of free educational children's television!
2
Anybody know how much the CEO of Sesame Street is paid? Cookie Monster is dead!
This is so terribly sad, I only hope that the "undisclosed amoun" of the sales price is a King's Ransom to be shared throughout PBS. They're going to need it. My fear is that all donations to PBS will now suffer for two reasons, either people figuring their donations aren't needed as the sale is a for profit venture, or as a protest against the removal of first run shows from people who can't afford HBO.
5
SESAME STREET being sold to big business corporation makes me extremely nervous as an educator!
The money doesn't go to pbs. It goes to sesame workshop, a totally different company.
Well then more's the pity.
I can see it now, Ernie and Bert come out of the closet and get married, Big Bird gets beheaded, plucked, roasted and eaten, Elmo is arrested for doing kids, Cookie Monster is poisoned, Grover goes into hiding and the fix it shop becomes a swingers club. Who is behind it all pulling strings in the shadows, Oscar of course.
6
There's a monster at the end of this book. It's always Oscar.
and pundits wonder why Bernie Sanders is attracting so many people...
16
I just don't understand how Sesame Street is in financial need in the first place. In 2011 alone, they brought in nearly $125 Million in revenue from grants, royalties, licenses and merchandise.
It is baffling to think that this isn't enough to produce their programming. Their revenue is more than twice of the production budget of Game of Thrones -- a heavy special effects and character-driven drama filmed on location on three or four continents.
This is a show that is filmed in a sound stage with puppets. Why would they need HBO? Does this mean that they will no longer need any of the funding from public, corporate and government educational funding?
It is baffling to think that this isn't enough to produce their programming. Their revenue is more than twice of the production budget of Game of Thrones -- a heavy special effects and character-driven drama filmed on location on three or four continents.
This is a show that is filmed in a sound stage with puppets. Why would they need HBO? Does this mean that they will no longer need any of the funding from public, corporate and government educational funding?
Running a television studio is very, very expensive. The fact that they can produce Sesame Street for half a million dollars an episode proves that Sesame Workshop is actually quite frugal.
Yeah, if you ignore 87% of their expenses and consider 100% of their revenue, it seems like they're making a lot of money. But Sesame Street is not their only expense, by a long shot.
Imagine if your boss asked you to take an 87% pay cut on the theory that your only expenses are food and gasoline. No, you would object, I have lots of other expenses! Well, so does Sesame Workshop.
See http://www.slate.com/articles/business/explainer/2012/01/does_sesame_str...
Yeah, if you ignore 87% of their expenses and consider 100% of their revenue, it seems like they're making a lot of money. But Sesame Street is not their only expense, by a long shot.
Imagine if your boss asked you to take an 87% pay cut on the theory that your only expenses are food and gasoline. No, you would object, I have lots of other expenses! Well, so does Sesame Workshop.
See http://www.slate.com/articles/business/explainer/2012/01/does_sesame_str...
Two words: SELL OUT.
This sure isn't the PBS I grew up with. The whole point of PBS was to reach viewers without a commercial message or influence, as well as those underserved by traditional TV. Now we get shows that are created because they have a corporate sponsor, extended credit that looks an awful lot like an ad to me, and lowest common denominator programming that you *could* easily see on basic cable. I knew the end was near when the Lawrence Welk show reruns showed up.
The PBS I grew up with aired National Geographic shows based on science, not extreme sports or drug dealers. I watched Jim Crockett's Victory Garden which literally taught you how to plant a garden. In the later years, we got travel clips from elite British estates w/ornate gardens. We saw ethnic programming that is now long gone and intelligent political debates not dumbed down by talking points. At least Charlie Rose is still there.
Public broadcasting should not be beholden to corporate sponsors like every other ad-sponsored network on television is. Otherwise, it's just another HGTV/Food Network/Science Channel.
This sure isn't the PBS I grew up with. The whole point of PBS was to reach viewers without a commercial message or influence, as well as those underserved by traditional TV. Now we get shows that are created because they have a corporate sponsor, extended credit that looks an awful lot like an ad to me, and lowest common denominator programming that you *could* easily see on basic cable. I knew the end was near when the Lawrence Welk show reruns showed up.
The PBS I grew up with aired National Geographic shows based on science, not extreme sports or drug dealers. I watched Jim Crockett's Victory Garden which literally taught you how to plant a garden. In the later years, we got travel clips from elite British estates w/ornate gardens. We saw ethnic programming that is now long gone and intelligent political debates not dumbed down by talking points. At least Charlie Rose is still there.
Public broadcasting should not be beholden to corporate sponsors like every other ad-sponsored network on television is. Otherwise, it's just another HGTV/Food Network/Science Channel.
8
Phillip Dampier:
I'm afraid it already is beholden to sponsors. I've been watching PBS online: programs are interrupted by commercials. Siiiiigh.
I'm afraid it already is beholden to sponsors. I've been watching PBS online: programs are interrupted by commercials. Siiiiigh.
Mitt Romney would have killed Big Bird. The current crop of political novices would kill PBS, the NSF, and not the least, NASA.
Nota bene.
Nota bene.
2
But but but... haven'tr we been told for the last 50 years that educational programming would never work on commercial television and that's why the government has to run it's own channel?
Can we finally just defund PBS now? Governments should not have their own propaganda outlets.
Can we finally just defund PBS now? Governments should not have their own propaganda outlets.
1
Really, tell me what propaganda PBS produces (NOVA, funded by the Koch Foundation)?
No, we can't. Governments should promote values like honesty, sharing, and caring about other people, in spite of and because of the conservative hostility to those values.
Conservatives have plenty of opportunities to promote their values of dishonesty, selfishness, and cruelty.
Conservatives have plenty of opportunities to promote their values of dishonesty, selfishness, and cruelty.
OK seriously. If you really care about your communities and the state of the nation*s children, why are you giving your money to PBS?
Give it to your local library foundation or to the Books for Kids Foundation.
Sesame Street has wandered, far, far from its roots and is not really serving the desperate needs of children whose families or sort-of-families do not properly socialize them and prepare them for the demands of mainstream society.
It*s really junk TV now, encouraging as much tiny tot consumer demand as any Disney production.
Now if we could resurrect Shari Lewis...
Give it to your local library foundation or to the Books for Kids Foundation.
Sesame Street has wandered, far, far from its roots and is not really serving the desperate needs of children whose families or sort-of-families do not properly socialize them and prepare them for the demands of mainstream society.
It*s really junk TV now, encouraging as much tiny tot consumer demand as any Disney production.
Now if we could resurrect Shari Lewis...
3
There's some inexplicable comments here about greed. Who's being greedy?
Not PBS, which couldn't afford more new episodes. Not CTN which is now able to pay for more new programming (and not just pocketing free cash). Not HBO, which is sponsoring more shows and providing their customers with great, valuable programming.
Not PBS, which couldn't afford more new episodes. Not CTN which is now able to pay for more new programming (and not just pocketing free cash). Not HBO, which is sponsoring more shows and providing their customers with great, valuable programming.
7
This reminds me of the BBC losing some much loved programming to Sky. Models and markets change and that often means the quality goes down as shows have to become more commerical. This seems like a sad, but necessary compromise to keep the quality (here's hoping!).
2
As been said so many times, successful PBS shows would do just fine on privately. Big Bird's salary is $300,000 a year-this is a show that makes a lot of money. Can we please shut down tax payer support of PBS? There are hundreds of channels out there that will cover anything PBS is showing.
Does this mean my tax dollars no longer go towards funding this progressive childrens indoc....show. Can we get NPR on the chopping block also?
1
No, and no. Public media is progressive because truth, justice and liberty are progressive values. Why shouldn't the government promote truth, justice and liberty?
The conservative movement hates Sesame Street because it encourages values like sharing, telling the truth, and caring about other people's feelings. That says a lot about the conservative movement.
The conservative movement hates Sesame Street because it encourages values like sharing, telling the truth, and caring about other people's feelings. That says a lot about the conservative movement.
1
I'm a HUGE supporter of Sesame Street being an educational vehicle for another generation of our children. However, once it moves off of PBS it will in my view no longer be programing for the "public good" deserving of not for profit status or any sort of government stipend through PBS.
Clearly, the HBO deal demonstrates the show has huge commercial value in both broadcast rights and character licensing so why does it Sesame Place still deserve to be tax exempt.
Dora the Explorer is a great educational tool as well, but the owners of the show pay taxes, so I'm afraid must Kermit and the gang.
Clearly, the HBO deal demonstrates the show has huge commercial value in both broadcast rights and character licensing so why does it Sesame Place still deserve to be tax exempt.
Dora the Explorer is a great educational tool as well, but the owners of the show pay taxes, so I'm afraid must Kermit and the gang.
3
It's not moving off PBS! Please, read the whole article.
Public Television has proven to be so terrible at fund raising, this does not surprise me. I've just about give up on my local station, who thinks folks will send in their donations after watching old, worn out, boring stuff that would never be broadcast under any other circumstances.
4
I agree. I will not give to PBS unless they stop those 10 day 3-times-a-year suspension of normal programming. So much of their decent programming comes from outside the US, mostly England and it is so sad we cannot have a real "public" station. PBS is starved for cash. It is also sad to see PBS News Hour slanted due to Koch Brothers influence. Frontline, still reasonably good, also is pressured by PBS to limit their coverage. Thank you HBO for rescuing Sesame Street!
2
Outrageous and stupid. What part of non-profit does this company not understand?
This is a bonehead move by a group of incompetent nitwits at Sesame Workshop who have no idea what they are doing.
And I also have to wonder how grossly incompetent the PBS executives are to let such a highly prized show get away from them.
Idiocy rules in today's TV world.
This is a bonehead move by a group of incompetent nitwits at Sesame Workshop who have no idea what they are doing.
And I also have to wonder how grossly incompetent the PBS executives are to let such a highly prized show get away from them.
Idiocy rules in today's TV world.
7
I think PBS is getting a deal! They get the show for free. They get more episodes a year than before, when they were funding them, all for free! PBS can now use the money they have been giving to Sesame workshop for other new education projects...
So does this mean that they will no longer receive any tax dollars?
1
Once again, families who would benefit more from Sesame Street won't be able to access it.
15
I remember the days when Congressional Republicans said that PBS was unnecessary, because Discovery broadcast science and history documentaries, A&E broadcast British dramas and arts programing, and Bravo was devoted exclusively to foreign and art house films.
At the time, those were fair characterizations of those cable channels. But how has reliance on that part of the private sector worked out in the long run?
A
At the time, those were fair characterizations of those cable channels. But how has reliance on that part of the private sector worked out in the long run?
A
10
Everyone one of the channels you mention have become nothing more than reality channels and reruns of recent series. Despite the limited funds, PBS has managed to keep shows like NOVA and American Experience on the air. On cable, the good history and science type shows have declined greatly to a trickle. Unfortunately, reality TV sells, it is cheap and requires no thinking by either the viewers.
A&E was an Arts channels started out as CBS Cable, around 1980. Bravo was also an Arts channel; far from it now. Discovery Networks, National Geographic, science; hardly now. History, H2, history; both reality now. And corporate media wonders why people "cut the cord". Broadcast TV is marginally better, though the subchannels offer variety. And PBS still offers good educational, science and entertainment programming. I remember being introduced to Dr. Who and Monty Python in the early 1970s over WNET. Not to mention "Evening at Pops".
We don;'t need PBS? We need it more than ever.
A&E was an Arts channels started out as CBS Cable, around 1980. Bravo was also an Arts channel; far from it now. Discovery Networks, National Geographic, science; hardly now. History, H2, history; both reality now. And corporate media wonders why people "cut the cord". Broadcast TV is marginally better, though the subchannels offer variety. And PBS still offers good educational, science and entertainment programming. I remember being introduced to Dr. Who and Monty Python in the early 1970s over WNET. Not to mention "Evening at Pops".
We don;'t need PBS? We need it more than ever.
24
Even as we speak I am screening a movie where I work that most of the children have seen multiple times (hint--"Let It Go) and no one has complained about the re-run.
I am appalled at what our society has come to in terms of the haves and have nots. But considering that the Philistines are running Congress today with an agenda of ignorance, in the end I have to cheer Sesame Street's organization for making sure that the program is in their hands as little as possible and will stay on PBS, in one form or another.
I am appalled at what our society has come to in terms of the haves and have nots. But considering that the Philistines are running Congress today with an agenda of ignorance, in the end I have to cheer Sesame Street's organization for making sure that the program is in their hands as little as possible and will stay on PBS, in one form or another.
8
Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street? Only if you can pay for a premium cable subscription.
14
Game of Thr(ees, Twos and)Ones.
3
The reason why kids' programming is so important to streaming is because kids don't care about new episodes--they like repeats. So the 9 month blackout is very little lost in order to double the episodes/year and to keep the show viable and commercial-free. Content producers for PBS have always been private sector--very few PBS affiliates actually produce content, so this is not a watershed event in the viability of public TV. This is a great deal--I'm glad to see Sesame Street continue and HBO is a great network that had a hole in its children's programming.
6
Downton Abbey is co-produced with a private company as well, and airs in the UK before it airs in the US. Are we poor Americans deprived of content because the Brits get to see it before we do? Not hardly. Kids whose families don't have HBO will still get to see the new episodes, and all kids will benefit from the expanded number of episodes and the amount of new content. If they even notice -- my kids watch reruns of their favorite shows all the time. If I say "you've seen this one," the response is almost invariably, "yeah, but I love this one."
3
So I guess Romney was right. Big Bird can survive (and profit) without public funding
10
Would Big Bird and Sesame Street even have been created without public funding?
No.
No.
4
PBS is still receiving public funding, from my tax dollars. My objection is that I also pay the satellite company to watch it, and then they have to nerve to ask me for a 3rd donation, holding the audience hostage for 10 days, every 2 months, until we pay up, or they give up. Some of the PBS stuff is very good, but you can watch a lot of it on Amazon Prime, or Acorn, for 4 or 5 bucks a month, or free online (well, I also paid for the internet connection.)
The verdict is still out on what that survival will entail. Big Bird extolling the virtues of soda?
1
someone needs to recreate opening credits of the Sopranos with Sesame Street characters
3
This is sad, outrageous really. Way to make the American income divide worse, Sesame Street! Lots of kids from poor and even middle-income families--those who see HBO as a luxury, not a necessity, or don't want their children exposed to sexually-themed shows--will have to wait 9 months to see new Sesame Street episodes. I liken it to DisneyWorld letting rich kids whose parents will pay cut to the front of the line for rides.
12
I hope, now that Sesame Street with be on HBO, they'll be able to use the F-word. It's been a long wait!
6
If HBO wanted to be really cool they could cover the cost of new production, skip the exclusivity deal, and gift the new episodes directly to PBS. That way, nobody's kids will be left out if a family can't afford HBO or streaming services.
I know ... pipe dream. But still, it would be a worthwhile community service.
I know ... pipe dream. But still, it would be a worthwhile community service.
17
Hear, hear!
Yup, it looks like more privileged kids will get to sit in the VIP section, while the rest are consigned to the rear mezzanine. At least it'll be a more honest life lesson than the myth of "equality" that children are taught in schools today.
What's next? Charging for a ride on the school bus or paying for a better spot in the supermarket line? After all, restaurants are starting to put a price tag on reservations. Pretty soon, we'll be expected to fork over extra cash for the air we breathe.
What's next? Charging for a ride on the school bus or paying for a better spot in the supermarket line? After all, restaurants are starting to put a price tag on reservations. Pretty soon, we'll be expected to fork over extra cash for the air we breathe.
10
Businesses are desperate to make any money anywhere they can. Wit the increases of taxes, regulatory requirements, and the effective inflation caused by the mismanagement of our currency due to skyrocketing national debt, most businesses are trying to survive any way they can.
However, in Sesame Street's case, I am skeptical. They rake it in on merchandising. How much do they make off of nonsense like 'Elmo' dolls? It's millions.
As far as an air tax, I suspect that will be coming soon. As humans exhale CO2 which the Marxist Democrats have labeled a pollutant. S that will be another excellent vehicle for them to control the population and steal more private revenue.
However, in Sesame Street's case, I am skeptical. They rake it in on merchandising. How much do they make off of nonsense like 'Elmo' dolls? It's millions.
As far as an air tax, I suspect that will be coming soon. As humans exhale CO2 which the Marxist Democrats have labeled a pollutant. S that will be another excellent vehicle for them to control the population and steal more private revenue.
With the increasing number of commercials, it appears to me that PBS is slowly going commercial. If It is true, I'm sorry that PBS is being privatized.
6
Anything that helps PBS produce more educational programming for children can't be half bad. Good on HBO and better still for PBS. Times are hard and if it means more revenue for PBS all the better.
2
Times are h-a-r-d. Go get the m-o-n-e-y. Yeah, that's what it's all about. The $$$$$$$$ are what rules.
1
Look for the teapublicans to go after PBS with a funds cutting vengeance. Not wanting to face backlash from cutting off Big Bird saved PBS in the past. So 9 months of reruns is good for the poor children, even though for some, it may be the only form of educational enrichment they have, so that the rich can have more, new, on demand episodes. Typical corporate America!
8
As a resident of the Lower East Side, I'm aware that the original title of "Sesame Street" was "1-2-3 Avenue B" and I wish they'd remember most people on Avenue B - even today - don't have HBO.
26
Jim Henson is rolling over in his grave.
1
Imagine the outrage when all major league and college sports move to pay-per-view, as even Disney and Comcast become unable to absorb ever-increasing player salaries. If you thought adults were upset over Sesame Street on HBO, just wait to see how they react to Sunday Night Football for $10 an episode, with commercials, and $100 to watch the Super Bowl and Rose Bowl.
8
@Mark Lebow I think you've got it backwards. It's not player salaries that drive TV money. It's TV money (networks spend based on how much advertising revenue they can generate) that drives player salaries (as the league makes more TV money, the players want their cut.)
Bring it on! It won't be that daddy gambled away the rent money--he spent it on televised football.
I've seen other reports that Sesame street is going to a half-hour format. Is that related to this move, or just a reflection of unversal ADHD?
2
Everyone is crying fowl about access. Well Big Bird aint free now. He/She is shackled by cable already. The days of Rabbit Ears and antenna television are LONG GONE. You can not just plug in a TV and get ANYTHING FOR FREE!!! So calm down everyone, and lets be happy that HBO is footing the bill for the production to keep going!!! PBS will get to air the content in due time, and MORE OF IT! Once the initial 9 months passes the masses will have all the access they desire. In my area you can not get any local TV over the air waves, thanks to the digital conversion.
1
Proud of HBO for picking up the slack that PBS couldn't. And so glad that Sesame Workshop now has the funding to create even more shows for children, The larger budget will also SW to get more creative with its programming.
Good going, HBO and SW!
Good going, HBO and SW!
2
I'm pretty sure that the foul language, violence, and sexual situations you can see on some HBO series will not be appearing on "Sesame Street.". But I wouldn't be surprised to see dragons!
3
I have FIOS and there are about 8 HBO stations including HBO Children, I highly doubt this will be on any of the other HBO stations.
This is GREAT! SS gets its much-needed funding, and HBO gets some quality children programming. Sounds like a win-win.
1
Maybe the US government could close just one military base in one of our satrapies abroad and provide the resultant million$ to PBS so it could properly fund CTW.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
7
Why on Earth would they do that? That is an asinine thought! Sesame Street is just a TV show for kids. Yes, it is somewhat "educational" (but even that can be debated). However, to compare the importance of a military base with a silly TV show -- which brings in MILLIONS each week in merchandising revenue -- is absolutely ridiculous.
2
A lot of the comments are making this a rich vs poor situation. It isn't. I am comfortable, but I choose not to incur the expense of the 'premium' (aka: pay) channels. I personally believe that a lot of the so-called poor, with their government subsidies, will choose to have the premium/pay channels. However, the children (or parent) in these subsidized households will not choose to watch $esame $treet.
1
What? The government subsidizes pay channels?
Yup, reading comprehension is sorely lacking with human beings these days. Many of us read the same article but, as some of the comments point out, it's like people read the article and still failed utterly to grasp what it's saying. Without this deal, Sesame Workshop was having to cut back on production... now they can actually do the opposite, ramp up production. What's so terribly hard to understand about that? Are there lots of Republicans and Trump supporters commenting here?
3
We all read the same article, Daniel...some of us are commenting on what the downsides are...sure, HBO will pick up the tab from now on...but, the intended audience will go missing...they are not there, at HBO...they are at free PBS Channels...the HBOers will be able to lord it over them...and by the way, do you seriously think that ANY Republican, especially Trump, would respond to this article in that way? They don't even know what PBS stands for...do YOU understand what's being said??
6
I could cry...my two, much younger, brothers literally grew up on sesame Street (NO PUN INTENDED)...we were in the Bronx, New York then...it was the early 70's...Sesame Street was brand new. Had cable TV been around then, we could not have afforded it...but, guess what?? We DID donate to our local PBS Station, Channel 13, WNET...Do you know about NYC in the 70's??? Thank the powers that be that PBS and Sesame Street was available to us...and now, truly, the end of an era has come...it is absolutely true, then, that when Mommy and Daddy can afford more, their children will always be ahead of the curve, right up in front, the first to know everything...Kermit, what about the Rainbow Connection ??? Miss Piggy, will the poorer little girl not learn how to become a woman with her own mind??? For shame, for shame...
13
The producers of $esame $rett make millions on merchandising and either none or very little go to funding the show itself and charging PBS less. Going on HBO lines their pockets even more. I am not surprised, nor do I care. I care about them being on a network that is funded by my dollars. When I see equal time on PBS for a conservative opinion, it will be the first time.
1
I understand why this deal had to be done, but let's be honest: this will negatively affect PBS funding. Middle class and wealthy parents who can afford HBO are also those most able to cut a check during one of PBS's funding drives. Now, why should they donate? They will feel, rightly, that they'd be "paying twice" for Sesame Street. Those left watching it on PBS will now be those least able to donate. Yes, I realize PBS has more than just Sesame Street, and so does HBO, but it is a flagship show, the crown jewel, especially for viewers with children. Just another small chipping away at the American public sphere. We are all to blame for allowing this to happen.
16
Considering you can watch Sesame Street for free on YouTube, the PBS app and Sesame Street's website, why should someone give to their PBS station right now? You don't have to watch PBS to see Sesame Street. Two thirds of Sesame Street's viewers watch the show via some source besides their local affiliate. Times are changing.
9 months delay no big deal? That's an entire school year! Perhaps you forget what its like to be in school when certain kids got things because of their economic advantages - and you did not.
How did that make you feel?
How did that make you feel?
16
Um, you did read the article, right? Where it says that PBS will still show Sesame Street during those nine months. And do you understand that during the past few years, PBS has been showing reruns most of the time anyway, because they can only afford to produce a few weeks of new episodes each year?
It astounds me the amount of people who comment online who in fact never read the thing they are commenting on. You can tell that they kind of skim over some paragraphs and then spew their idiocy every comment board they can.
5
You're being too hard on yourself.
7
Hey Chicken Little - Gordon Gecko has not eaten Elmo.
Greed may not really be good, but paying the bills is better than going off the air.
Greed may not really be good, but paying the bills is better than going off the air.
11
NYT, there is no "letter of the day" on Sesame Street.
It should be: "Sesame Street is brought to you by the letters H,B and O."
How did you miss that?
It should be: "Sesame Street is brought to you by the letters H,B and O."
How did you miss that?
3
How much say does HBO get in the programming content? I would hate to see the educational aspect watered down in favor of pushing toys & merchandise, which is the function of most children's entertainment. There should be a "firewall" agreed to for preventing HBO from interfering with the subject matter.
I don't want my four year old being hit with subtle sales pitches from Big Bird, Grover, and Elmo. He's there to learn, and to have some fun.
I don't want my four year old being hit with subtle sales pitches from Big Bird, Grover, and Elmo. He's there to learn, and to have some fun.
I knew Sesame Street had been co-opted when they started airing little segments in the diction of rap and hip-hop.
Their target audience was already familiar with THAT.
Those children needed exposure to standard English spoken naturally and with ease by people who looked like them, to emphasize and reinforce that such language is not exclusive to and indicative only of *white people.*
Why are so many immigrants from Asia so successful here? Because despite the incredible variety of regional languages and local dialects in their homelands, every educated person learns to speak the national or official language with fluency. In the home they speak whatever is most comfortable and familiar, and in the public sphere they speak what is necessary or required for success.
Why did Sesame Street ignore or forget that extremely important first lesson?
Their target audience was already familiar with THAT.
Those children needed exposure to standard English spoken naturally and with ease by people who looked like them, to emphasize and reinforce that such language is not exclusive to and indicative only of *white people.*
Why are so many immigrants from Asia so successful here? Because despite the incredible variety of regional languages and local dialects in their homelands, every educated person learns to speak the national or official language with fluency. In the home they speak whatever is most comfortable and familiar, and in the public sphere they speak what is necessary or required for success.
Why did Sesame Street ignore or forget that extremely important first lesson?
2
First sports go to paid TV and now this....
1
This is a great move for Sesame Workshop. It seems to me most of the people commenting here have fond memories of the days when CTW would produce 50-60 new episodes per year. Those days are long gone. Currently, they produce 18 new episodes. New episodes that are largely filled with old segments. Sesame Workshop is lucky to produce a few hours of new TV per year. The goal of this deal is to make it like it was years ago. Less repeats of Abby's Flying Fairy School (which have been pounded into the ground as they are repeated so much) and more new educational segments. As a parent, if it means my son will get to learn more new things, then I can only applaud it.
As far as HBO goes, they have roots with the Muppets. They were the exclusive broadcaster of Fraggle Rock. They have a kids channel. They will do this the right way.
Henson might've partnered with CTW but it's not like he didn't do commercial work. The Muppets did tons of commercial work in the 60s which is how they took off. And of course Henson himself did partner with HBO back in 1980. In some ways, this is sending some muppets back to where they had a home for many many years.
As far as HBO goes, they have roots with the Muppets. They were the exclusive broadcaster of Fraggle Rock. They have a kids channel. They will do this the right way.
Henson might've partnered with CTW but it's not like he didn't do commercial work. The Muppets did tons of commercial work in the 60s which is how they took off. And of course Henson himself did partner with HBO back in 1980. In some ways, this is sending some muppets back to where they had a home for many many years.
3
The first thing I thought when I read this was that it was interesting, because HBO would provide Sesame Street the resources and backing to expand their production and continue 5 seasons guaranteed. I know their production company has faced ongoing issues with budget concerns at PBS, despite a long run.
AND, that it would continue to air this new production on PBS, albeit with a bit of a delay. I can't imagine a delayed airing would concern a 6 year old and that much content requires live presentation by the show. With 18 showings, they're already doing reruns for much of the year anyway.
All this sounds like a positive step for the show, even if different than their past. Yet reading the comments all you read is "greed", "rich people", etc. PBS is publicly funded and for anyone with concerns, I'd also ask if you've donated to the show or channel? Many have, but probably not enough to avoid this sort of situation. Why is it entirely "rich people" responsible for this?
And now that the show has moved, HBO is available for $15/mo, and you don't even need cable. That may be a concern for some, but this is just for the new episodes, you can still likely get older content on PBS.
So congratulations to the show for doing what it takes to expand their content and reach, and ensure their viable funding for the next 5 years at least.
AND, that it would continue to air this new production on PBS, albeit with a bit of a delay. I can't imagine a delayed airing would concern a 6 year old and that much content requires live presentation by the show. With 18 showings, they're already doing reruns for much of the year anyway.
All this sounds like a positive step for the show, even if different than their past. Yet reading the comments all you read is "greed", "rich people", etc. PBS is publicly funded and for anyone with concerns, I'd also ask if you've donated to the show or channel? Many have, but probably not enough to avoid this sort of situation. Why is it entirely "rich people" responsible for this?
And now that the show has moved, HBO is available for $15/mo, and you don't even need cable. That may be a concern for some, but this is just for the new episodes, you can still likely get older content on PBS.
So congratulations to the show for doing what it takes to expand their content and reach, and ensure their viable funding for the next 5 years at least.
13
On the Gentrification of Sesame Street: Must everything be co-opted and privatized? Our poor babies now have to pay to watch a show that's been free for decades, or wait to see the reruns, which we know are never as exciting. Who wants to explain to their child that Sesame Street is now an exclusive gated community where you need to know someone and/or pay a pricey admission fee to enter, or patiently wait to peek through the gate after everyone's gone? Also, kids can be cruel. I imagine many a fight over a "cable kid" bragging to a "public TV kid" about seeing Sesame Street first. SMH #OpenSesameStreet
4
I would have preferred a couple of commercials during Sesame Street over this. But I wonder if this means we'll get more Game of Throne spoofs on Sesame Street. I mean Grover as grover bluejoy was A+
4
For those who are upset about HBO's involvement -- how is this bad? HBO is paying for the new shows and once it is done, we all get to watch more shows.
Not only that, hopefully, we won't be able to tell the HBO episodes apart from the ones made for PBS.
The alternative suggested by others to use sponsorship model is even more troublesome. PBS already lost its status as Caesar's Wife with the Koch brothers incident a couple of years ago. In the HBO model, theoretically, reputation damaging questions cannot be raised.
Not only that, hopefully, we won't be able to tell the HBO episodes apart from the ones made for PBS.
The alternative suggested by others to use sponsorship model is even more troublesome. PBS already lost its status as Caesar's Wife with the Koch brothers incident a couple of years ago. In the HBO model, theoretically, reputation damaging questions cannot be raised.
3
Children of paying HBO subscribers will effectively have access to the benefits of the latest educational research utilized in the show, 9 months before the rest of the public.
One of the many ways that an even playing field eludes American children.
One of the many ways that an even playing field eludes American children.
7
Sesame Street isn't strongly based upon current topical themes, so the 9 month exclusivity isn't a high price to pay for greater funding. Yes, it's a little sad that those who are willing to pay about 30 cents a day for their television viewing get the jump on those who can't or won't, but this is the consequence of a political system that relies upon jingoist rhetoric instead of supporting the common good. Ideally, Congress would get their heads out their posteriors and fund the comparatively meager amounts PBS requires for quality television programming, but failing that, this isn't a bad solution.
There is a secondary effect that is detrimental to PBS funding, though, as Sesame Street is a big fund-raising point during pledge drives, and playing second fiddle to HBO weakens the notion that pledging money to PBS is great for the common good of our children - however, I'm sure that PBS will still be paying out for Sesame Street in order to have their 9-month later viewing window, so this rationale for their fund-raising is still present. If you're still thinking of supporting education for all, continuing to fund PBS is still a good thing even after this deal.
There is a secondary effect that is detrimental to PBS funding, though, as Sesame Street is a big fund-raising point during pledge drives, and playing second fiddle to HBO weakens the notion that pledging money to PBS is great for the common good of our children - however, I'm sure that PBS will still be paying out for Sesame Street in order to have their 9-month later viewing window, so this rationale for their fund-raising is still present. If you're still thinking of supporting education for all, continuing to fund PBS is still a good thing even after this deal.
10
Might you present it in other terms: "30 cents a day" is over 100 dollars a year !!!! (or about one cent an hour, or $1000 !!!! per 10 years. Trivialize fees to "per day" is what cell phone companies, cable companies, streaming services etc are very good at.
1
I wonder how many of the commenters bemoaning this development have actually watched Sesame Street, or children's television generally, in recent years. Sesame Street long ago stopped being the show I grew up watching in the 1970s.
Today's Sesame Street is all about celebrity cameos and marketing. Elmo, he of the annoying baby voice, is front and center. There are also plenty of cartoon segments about fairies and princesses and the like. Even the promos they run on PBS are heavy on the guest hosts and very, very light on the actual content.
I have two toddlers who watch their fare share of TV. It's a credit to their good taste that they'd much rather watch Peppa Pig, Curious George, Team Umizoomi or any of the other shows out there available to them. Neither of them has any interest in Sesame Street whatsoever.
Today's Sesame Street is all about celebrity cameos and marketing. Elmo, he of the annoying baby voice, is front and center. There are also plenty of cartoon segments about fairies and princesses and the like. Even the promos they run on PBS are heavy on the guest hosts and very, very light on the actual content.
I have two toddlers who watch their fare share of TV. It's a credit to their good taste that they'd much rather watch Peppa Pig, Curious George, Team Umizoomi or any of the other shows out there available to them. Neither of them has any interest in Sesame Street whatsoever.
12
1) Curious George is also a PBS KIDS production.
2) Research demonstrating the educational benefits of Sesame Street in early childhood was reported in this publication not too long ago. Look it up.
2) Research demonstrating the educational benefits of Sesame Street in early childhood was reported in this publication not too long ago. Look it up.
Yes, Z, that's precisely why I included Curious George in my list. The whole point is that in this day and age, a 9-month lag for non-HBO subscribers to view new episodes of Sesame Street is virtually meaningless. The commenters on here making any kind of point about haves and have-nots, based on this one incident, know nothing about how kids shows work.
Sesame Street may have educational benefits, though I don't personally see much beyond what other shows offer. But any episode that was included in the research you cite is, by definition, already available for anyone to watch. So again, this new HBO deal is meaningless, except to provide more episodes of Sesame Street.
Sesame Street may have educational benefits, though I don't personally see much beyond what other shows offer. But any episode that was included in the research you cite is, by definition, already available for anyone to watch. So again, this new HBO deal is meaningless, except to provide more episodes of Sesame Street.
My kids didn't grow up with much contemporary sesame street either. Instead, I bought the Old School Sesame Street dvds and they enjoyed those much more.
2
A lot of people's comments on here are rather cynical of an HBO/Sesame relationship. They may not be aware, but in the 80's Jim Henson had a partnership with HBO that was important to the Jim Henson company. They produced a show called Fraggle Rock. Actually Fraggle Rock was the very first episodic show on HBO. You can say it paved the way for multi-season shows like Game of Thrones.
Sesame Street is important to American culture. It taught me how to speak English (Spanish was my first language) and it does that and more to millions of children who like myself were low income and only got this kind of education at school. This deal, from what I read in this article, will help Sesame Street survive for another 45 years. I support it.
Sesame Street is important to American culture. It taught me how to speak English (Spanish was my first language) and it does that and more to millions of children who like myself were low income and only got this kind of education at school. This deal, from what I read in this article, will help Sesame Street survive for another 45 years. I support it.
10
I can't wait to hear Oscar the Grouch swear like a sailor. He's been censoring himself for 45 years!
Our son LOVES Sesame Street and no, we don't have HBO nor will pay for it. Thumbs down.
1
Even Sesame Street is whoring it up.
2
It's not easy being green.
But its really easy generating green by selling out.
But its really easy generating green by selling out.
3
Hope the parents take steps to keep the children from inadvertently watching other offerings on HBO.
I'm not understanding the vitriol coming from my co-posters about this. Sure, people who aren't able to afford HBO won't get the opportunity to watch Sesame Street as soon as they're made available but all of these episodes will still be available at some point. I don't think Sesame Street relies on timeliness the same way the nightly news does. My daughter can watch Sesame Street whether it's ten minutes or ten years old and still benefit.
Plus, why not allow the people who subscribe to HBO to foot the bill so that we can get EVEN MORE EPISODES than we otherwise would be able to without the deal? This is a win for those of us whose children love Sesame Street. I can wait more months for new episodes. In the meantime, my daughter still has access to older episodes and the promise of twice as many as she'd otherwise have in nine months.
Plus, why not allow the people who subscribe to HBO to foot the bill so that we can get EVEN MORE EPISODES than we otherwise would be able to without the deal? This is a win for those of us whose children love Sesame Street. I can wait more months for new episodes. In the meantime, my daughter still has access to older episodes and the promise of twice as many as she'd otherwise have in nine months.
14
Sorry day --
Taking your show away.
On the way to where the cash is green.
Now you'll have to wait to get
Wait to get to Sesame Street.
Too poor to pay?
You don't count anyway.
Friendly cable says this can't be beat!
But you'll have to wait to get
Wait to get to Sesame Street.
Taking your show away.
On the way to where the cash is green.
Now you'll have to wait to get
Wait to get to Sesame Street.
Too poor to pay?
You don't count anyway.
Friendly cable says this can't be beat!
But you'll have to wait to get
Wait to get to Sesame Street.
7
#TruePetDetective #SixAndTheCity #BigBirdLove #GameofPhones #Peep #SixFeetBlunders
I'm just wondering if now we'll have Elmo going full frontal, while Kermit throws around profanity and Oscar follows up his grouchy words with physical violence.
Sesame Street Empire, anyone? Game of Rubber Ducky Thrones?
Will David Simon be directing?
Sesame Street Empire, anyone? Game of Rubber Ducky Thrones?
Will David Simon be directing?
4
We've subsidized this show and it's network for decades.It's time for Elmo and the gang to kick back some of the hundreds of millions of dollars in merchandising profits back to Uncle Sam and the tax payers.Fat chance.
2
I'm devastated. My son has already seen all 4,386 episodes of Sesame Street, and now has to wait an additional 9 months before seeing new ones. (I'm afraid to tell him about the internet because he'll just skip directly to game of thrones)
4
My kids would have been even gypped out of Sesame Street. And guess what? We would not have been thought of as "poor" - my husband was an elementary school teacher and I was a stay a home mom, but yup, we were poor. We would never have been able to afford HBO. It would have been way out of our reach. So I guess Big Bird would have been way out of reach for our kids.
So much for public education in America. Defund schools, taxpayers pay for churches by way of parochial schools vouchers, demonize teachers, and even sell out PBS to HBO. What would Bert and Ernie really say - and more importantly what would Bert and Ernie feel?
All those Cookie Monster days ahead - only for those kids whose parents can afford HBO? Tragic.
"Sunny Day, sweepin' the clouds away. On my way to where the air is sweet"
but only if you have a family that can fit HBO fees in their stack of bills.
So much for public education in America. Defund schools, taxpayers pay for churches by way of parochial schools vouchers, demonize teachers, and even sell out PBS to HBO. What would Bert and Ernie really say - and more importantly what would Bert and Ernie feel?
All those Cookie Monster days ahead - only for those kids whose parents can afford HBO? Tragic.
"Sunny Day, sweepin' the clouds away. On my way to where the air is sweet"
but only if you have a family that can fit HBO fees in their stack of bills.
9
Good grief -- READ THE ARTICLE! PBS will be broadcasting Sesame Street!
How sad that a show that has so democratically reached every child in this country for years is now only going to be accessible to those who can afford to pay for it! We are losing so many of the public institutions we once held dear, and were willing to support with our tax dollars, to private industry, where dollars will inevitably drive decision making, including content of Sesame Street. I'm not sure which is worse: that low income kids won't be able to see Sesame Street for 9 months, or that high income kids will.
7
This show has been particulatrly important for non-English speaker not only from a language standpoint but as a gentle transmitter of our cultural values--
Now, they'll be rlegated to the worst elements of our "culture" -- "Cops" and Jerry Springer and his legion of imitators!
Now, they'll be rlegated to the worst elements of our "culture" -- "Cops" and Jerry Springer and his legion of imitators!
Our local PBS station is in their August money begging cycle right now, flooding the network with Do-Wop concerts and healthy living specials that all seem to have a product placement tie-in ("for a contribution of just $100 you'll get...")
With the move to HBO underwriting new episodes, will the amount of fund raising be curtailed in the future?
With the move to HBO underwriting new episodes, will the amount of fund raising be curtailed in the future?
4
i dont think local stations will be affected. it seems like only Sesame Workshop Inc. is getting the funds
Oh the horror! Imagine the rich kids getting a 9 month advantage of poor kids in watching the latest episodes.
What if there are new developments in the Alphabet? What if new discoveries are made with the numbers 1 through 9? Poor kids won't find out for 9 months. What are we to do?
What if there are new developments in the Alphabet? What if new discoveries are made with the numbers 1 through 9? Poor kids won't find out for 9 months. What are we to do?
13
This is a PR disaster for PBS. Why should I contribute to my PBS station if they are going to sell episodes of popular TV shows nurtured and developed by public television to HBO? Next we'll see Downton Abbey sold to Showtime. Greed is one of the seven deadly sins--and this trend could mean the death of personal contributions to PBS.
5
Downton Abbey was produced by Carnival Films for ITV in the UK. They struck a deal with PBS to show it in the US, but PBS wasn't responsible for its creation or development.
Meanwhile, it doesn't sound like PBS had enough money to keep Sesame Street production going. This deal means there's more episodes that will (eventually) air on PBS, which reaches more kids than HBO. Seems like a win for the kids, even if the optics aren't great for PBS.
Meanwhile, it doesn't sound like PBS had enough money to keep Sesame Street production going. This deal means there's more episodes that will (eventually) air on PBS, which reaches more kids than HBO. Seems like a win for the kids, even if the optics aren't great for PBS.
Because it wasn't PBS that sold the episodes. It was the Sesame Workshop that produces the show. From what I am reading PBS is getting zero money from the deal--besides being able to air the show nine months later for free. If more people gave to PBS they could sustain partnerships like the one they had with Sesame Workshop and those shows wouldn't have to turn to places like HBO for help.
2
Sesame Street is not owned by PBS, which is making nothing out of this deal. Sesame Workshop, on the other hand, is regaining the ability to produce nearly twice the amount of episodes it produces now.
I don't see this quite as negatively as others. Yes, there's a delay before it reaches PBS, but then there will be twice as many new programs for all. It's tough to pay for stuff, this strikes me as kind of an ingenious deal that benefits PBS, HBO and Sesame Workshop.
8
After reading a lot of the comments concerning this, I have to wonder how many people read and comprehended the entire article. Without this having been done, it appears Sesame Street would have been no more.
25
A lot of people seem to be missing the point that:
a) The show will still be available on PBS
b) If a deal like this didn't happen, the show was going to disappear forever.
It's tough to label something a "bad" move when it's their only move. Kids will still get PBS, and the show can keep going. The money had to come from somewhere, and with the funding cuts to PBS they had little choice.
FYI: If you vote republican you implicitly voted for this, given their attitude to PBS. That said, you're probably impressed that they're ensuring their existence through partnership with a private company, so there's that. I just hope the content doesn't change.
a) The show will still be available on PBS
b) If a deal like this didn't happen, the show was going to disappear forever.
It's tough to label something a "bad" move when it's their only move. Kids will still get PBS, and the show can keep going. The money had to come from somewhere, and with the funding cuts to PBS they had little choice.
FYI: If you vote republican you implicitly voted for this, given their attitude to PBS. That said, you're probably impressed that they're ensuring their existence through partnership with a private company, so there's that. I just hope the content doesn't change.
1
For those that don't get HBO, sesamestreet.org is very well organized and has great, old content available. If HBO does things for children to the level of quality that early Sesame Street mastered, I'll be surprised.
http://www.sesamestreet.org/videos?video=3e50e72e-154c-11dd-8ea8-a3d2ac2...
http://www.sesamestreet.org/videos?video=3e50e72e-154c-11dd-8ea8-a3d2ac2...
Has Sesame Street really helped kids? It just starts them on the road to watching rather than doing, rather than reading, rather than using their imagination, rather than creating.
It's not that easy earning green.
2
At least HBO is non-commercial. I'll give Sesame Street credit for that. The true evil would be to merge "your parents don't love you unless they buy product X for you" capitalist advertising assaults upon family values into the middle of Sesame Street. The agreement with HBO should also include HBO not promoting any non-children's programming during 10 minutes before or after any episode.
The smarter move would have been for HBO to "support" Sesame Street on PBS. That way we see the profit from capitalism run rampant helping educate future consumers. Sad day, this one.
5
What happened to PBS? It is a huge disservice to have the program aired on a "pay channel" before the "open" PBS broadcast channels. I guess $e$ame Workshop is more interested in the money than it used to be.
1
“The partnership is really a great thing for kids,” Mr. Dunn said. “We’re getting revenues we otherwise would not have gotten, and with this we can do even more content for kids.”
Why does this statement reek of rationalization?
And agreeing with other commenters, why is the richest nation on earth unable to fully fund important children's programming like Sesame Street?
To me, the matra of business over the last 35 years has been to discover and take over ALL untapped revenue streams. That's why we have for-profit colleges, for-profit prisons, and now for-profit public television programming.
No wonder our children are growing up to be immature, corporatized, logo-sporting (and in some cases -tatted) consumers, whose goal of daily life is to spend, spend, spend.
Yes, today's letters are $ and $ - as in $esame $treet.
Why does this statement reek of rationalization?
And agreeing with other commenters, why is the richest nation on earth unable to fully fund important children's programming like Sesame Street?
To me, the matra of business over the last 35 years has been to discover and take over ALL untapped revenue streams. That's why we have for-profit colleges, for-profit prisons, and now for-profit public television programming.
No wonder our children are growing up to be immature, corporatized, logo-sporting (and in some cases -tatted) consumers, whose goal of daily life is to spend, spend, spend.
Yes, today's letters are $ and $ - as in $esame $treet.
4
It's not the news. There is no topicality. Who cares if its shown on PBS later?
1
At least we'll finally get to hear the characters using the sort of unbridled language we've suspected they've been suppressing for decades!
1
This is good for Sesame Street and children.
Almost twice as many shows will be produce each season.
Each episode has a very long shelf life and will teach children for decades to come.
All of this will greatly expand Sesame Street's educational mission. It doesn't make any difference if an episode is on HBO first then on PBS 9 months later. It's important that there is something useful for children to watch and learn from.
Almost twice as many shows will be produce each season.
Each episode has a very long shelf life and will teach children for decades to come.
All of this will greatly expand Sesame Street's educational mission. It doesn't make any difference if an episode is on HBO first then on PBS 9 months later. It's important that there is something useful for children to watch and learn from.
4
I'm appalled by this move to HBO. My family could not afford cable and all I had was "3-2-1 Contact" "Sesame Street" and "The Electric Company" growing up.
For decades I tried to purchase the original season of "3-2-1 Contact" on VHS or DVD, paying any price they'd ask; they kept telling me no - so don't give me the "revenues down from DVD sales" - they never released what we wanted!
And now only wealthy kids will get to see Sesame Street. Have you heard the new names of the shows?
"Sesame Wall Street"
"3-2-1 Profit!"
"The Electric Company: My Dad Owns It"
"Big Banks Bird: He Can't Fail"
"Oscar the Grouch, Everyone's Favorite CEO"
For decades I tried to purchase the original season of "3-2-1 Contact" on VHS or DVD, paying any price they'd ask; they kept telling me no - so don't give me the "revenues down from DVD sales" - they never released what we wanted!
And now only wealthy kids will get to see Sesame Street. Have you heard the new names of the shows?
"Sesame Wall Street"
"3-2-1 Profit!"
"The Electric Company: My Dad Owns It"
"Big Banks Bird: He Can't Fail"
"Oscar the Grouch, Everyone's Favorite CEO"
3
Several posts have been made beginning with, "how can the richest country on earth not provide for this kind of education for it's children . . ."
The US is NOT the world's richest nation - it is $19,000,000,000,000 in debt. Having money and being able to borrow money are not the same thing.
Bravo for the deal. Get government out of ventures it has no business being in . . . like television.
The US is NOT the world's richest nation - it is $19,000,000,000,000 in debt. Having money and being able to borrow money are not the same thing.
Bravo for the deal. Get government out of ventures it has no business being in . . . like television.
1
Good.... Now the Trans Gender puppets will have a home too...
So much for public television. A TV show created to even the playing field by providing literacy, math and other instruction to children who might not otherwise have access to it is now only available to those who can pay for it.
I was an avid Sesame Street viewer as a kid. We didn't have cable, so that was it for me in terms of approved kids' programming. Obviously the world has changed since 1990, but I remember there always being some element of repetition in every episode I watched. Very often I would see segments I had already watched many times before (A bit about a visit to a peanut butter factory and alphabet recitation with fireworks both stand out in my memory and it has been 25+ years) and I still enjoyed them. That said, it does make me sad that the only way for Sesame Workshop to increase episode production is to cater to the (expensive) subscription model. It will ultimately benefit PBS but the means to that end is unfortunate.
Hate to be the one to inform you but PBS does take donations but the biggest support is federal funding to NPR and PBS which mean I am paying for it whether I want to or not! Nothing is free.
back in the 70s, it was just about all new every day
Thought I would never live to see the gentrification of Sesame Street--et tu, CTW? Of course, one can salve one's conscience by praising a for-profit corporation for its public-spiritedness, but the gap between the haves and have-nots only widens, a quid pro quo, funding for access. So it goes.
2
The gratuitous full-frontals will be hard to get used to.
4
Much rather prefer Netflix given the fact i can use these steps https://goo.gl/UPtRk8 to change my region and access more content
The snarky, ungenerous thing to say would be: Will they have rich kids within the show who have advantages over the other kids? Or are they just doing that on the meta level?
The less snarky thing to say is: It's really too bad that we can't find the money to maintain public institutions that create level playing fields for everyone.
The less snarky thing to say is: It's really too bad that we can't find the money to maintain public institutions that create level playing fields for everyone.
6
This is horrible news! Why is it spun in such a positive way by the NYT--really privatization of public television is a good thing for kids. REALLY?
21
PBS is not being privatized. Sesame Street is moving to a new network, and after episodes are aired there, they will also air on PBS.
The problem here is that the portion of the audience that now streams Sesame Street via Amazon and Netflix will no longer have access to that stream. On the other hand, it's hard to believe that other quality children's programming couldn't be produced elsewhere, albeit with commercial funding. Captain Kangaroo was an example of a show that relied upon advertiser dollars from Kellogg's (cereals) and Schwinn (bicycles), yet still adhered to its ideals. If networks available on basic cable can fund cartoons, then surely more educational programs are possible. Watching only PBS for those makes about as much sense these days as watching This Old House for all of one's home improvement information, rather than tuning in to HGTV.
2
This would certainly make Jim Henson proud! To take an educational program for children and move it to a network that a smaller percentage of children can have access to- Perfect!
42
Having to wait 9 months to watch Sesame Street is like getting hand-me-down clothes. Sure it is better than not having clothes at all, but it did bum me out a little bit as a kid when I was wearing the style of 2 years prior. I understand why Sesame Workshop did it (just like I understood that my parents got me hand-me-downs because they weren't as wealthy as my friends' parents), but it sad that it reinforces the idea that your opportunities in America are shaped by the size of your parents wallets.
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As I and others have mentioned, most Sesame Street episodes are repeats. And even the new episodes are filled with old material. The nine months is hardly a big deal since PBS currently airs 18 new episodes per year. And they barely count as new.
12
So can I get a tax break now by giving my HBOGo login credentials to a poor family?
32
So it is now time to cease taxpayer funding of PBS?
Or must taxpayers now pay to provide programming to for-profit HBO?
Is there any government program that can stop sticking its hand in the taxpayers' pocket?
Or must taxpayers now pay to provide programming to for-profit HBO?
Is there any government program that can stop sticking its hand in the taxpayers' pocket?
7
It appears a lot of interesting political theories are rooted in a lack of reading comprehension. There is no mechanism described in the article for taxpayer money to flow to HBO.
1
If you don't want them to license to HBO, then SS needs more taxpayer dollars, not less. And if you want to see what happens to educational TV when it's not getting funding assistance, take a look at TLC, which at one time actually showed truly educational programming, but education...sadly...just isn't profitable. We stop funding programming like this, and we're walking towards wiping out educational programming altogether. We only seem to care about profit here (and not having to pay taxes)...meanwhile, the dumbing down of Americans continues, as millions tune in to watch garbage.
1
You don't appear to understand what's going on.
The amount of taxpayer money given to PBS is miniscule.
If you're really worried about your wallet, look into the problem of corporate welfare.
The amount of taxpayer money given to PBS is miniscule.
If you're really worried about your wallet, look into the problem of corporate welfare.
1
This is a sad day for education and the poor. To delay availability to the public while the privileged get access first is so wrong on so many levels. Guess we need to tell the kids the only way to Sesame Street is with money.
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How is it a sad day for the poor? When was the last time you went by a sect. 8/low income/trailer park and didn't see satellite dishes connected to the big screen TV that I and the other < 50% of WORKING Americans' paid for?
So the kids who need it most desperately, and for whom it was created in the first place, may not be able to access it now...
Way to go, Sesame Street. Not that it was all that hard to see what a commercial behemoth you*d become. But geez. You could have tried harder to pretend otherwise...
Way to go, Sesame Street. Not that it was all that hard to see what a commercial behemoth you*d become. But geez. You could have tried harder to pretend otherwise...
11
As others have already commented, it is disappointing (& not surprising) that this "best country in the world" won't completely fund such an extraordinary program.
ON THE OTHER HAND:
I don't know that not being able to see the newest episodes of Sesame Street will have any effect on children.
Won't children experience even an "old" episode as new?
After all... it is new to them!
Unless, of course, rich kids who are still in public schools wear t-shirts that say "My Kermit is Newer than Your Kermit".
ON THE OTHER HAND:
I don't know that not being able to see the newest episodes of Sesame Street will have any effect on children.
Won't children experience even an "old" episode as new?
After all... it is new to them!
Unless, of course, rich kids who are still in public schools wear t-shirts that say "My Kermit is Newer than Your Kermit".
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I truly think this is a bad move for this show HBO being a premium channel this will remove 30 to 40% of their viewers which are mostly poor families that can't afford premium channels like HBO.
5
I'm not a big fan of this, but, that said, they will continue to show it on PBS.
Hugely disappointing. If this doesn't represent the ever widening income, social & economic gap in our country, I don't know what does. 9 months??!! My god, what has America come to...one of the significant equalizer's for children across the country has gone to Wall Street. Shameful.
9
Wow, waiting nine months for the latest show? That means poor kids will not have immediate access to the newest letters and numbers, and will have to make do with the old ones.
Does this mean the female muppets, few though they are, will have to do nude scenes? I guess that will answer some questions we've long had.
I'm looking forward to crossover episodes: Matthew McConaughey's character from "True Detective" in a conversation with Elmo will be great television.
I'm looking forward to crossover episodes: Matthew McConaughey's character from "True Detective" in a conversation with Elmo will be great television.
33
It's Not Easy Being Green(back-Driven)
31
It's very upsetting that the richest country in the world won't even fund its most demonstrably beneficial program for the education of children-especially for poor and working class kids. This should be a catalyst for the president and congress to act to ensure that a program that is a public success story remains public. This is just one of many ways that the playing field is being unlevelled through lack of access.
I'm sure, also, that it will cause many parents with limited resources to shell out extra money for educational programming; they shouldn't have to. The public has paid for PBS programming-including Sesame Street-for decades.
I'm sure, also, that it will cause many parents with limited resources to shell out extra money for educational programming; they shouldn't have to. The public has paid for PBS programming-including Sesame Street-for decades.
81
The deal will result in MORE episodes of Sesame being freely available to every American family with an antenna. The people at Sesame Street deserve a lot of credit for maintaining their commitment to free TV when they undoubtedly could have made far more money by selling full exclusivity to HBO or another pay service. Great deal for all the business interests, and for kids and parents everywhere.
114
I agree. I don't think all commenters (so far) read the whole article. If 2/3 of viewers stream it at this point, it makes sense.
12
I think the problem is that many readers actually were brought up viewing Sesame Street. They have the resulting short attention spans, that prevent them from reading through the entire article.
With all of the Sesame Street episodes that will remain freely available, it hardly seems to be a hardship or a sign that the 1% have won again to have to wait nine months for new episodes. Considering that new number of new episodes will almost double, the benefits to children, ALL children, seem to outweigh the cost of waiting 9 months. I think Sesame Street deserves credit for dealing creatively with a funding problem that, given the present political climate, is likely to only get worse.
1
One more comment, so what do parents tell their kids, when ads for raunchy stand up comics, previews fro R-Rated movies and ads for "Game of Thrones" are featured around "Sesame Street"?
Well, as "Sesame Street" is directed to urban, pre-schoolers, they will get an "education" on HBO.
Disney owns "The Muppets". They are starting a new Muppet show this fall. Putting this on the Disney Channel makes more sense than HBO. This takes idiocy to a new level.
Well, as "Sesame Street" is directed to urban, pre-schoolers, they will get an "education" on HBO.
Disney owns "The Muppets". They are starting a new Muppet show this fall. Putting this on the Disney Channel makes more sense than HBO. This takes idiocy to a new level.
3
HBO has a dedicated kids channel. Fraggle Rock aired on HBO for many years. They are hardly new to airing kids programming.
7
While I am not thrilled about this news, HBO actually has had some quality children's programming. We loved their Classical Baby series. They keep the ads very tame during their children's shows. Most parents would use HBO on demand anyway and avoid the ad scene all together. Sesame Street would get lost on Disney Jr. The older skewed Disney channel is all obnoxious tween shows with terrible role models at this point . I would rather subject my children to HBO than the garbage on Disney. Disney also cancels shows after 3 seasons with the reasoning that repeats are fine for the new kids are cycling into the age group. (See Imagination Movers and Little Einsteins) It might not have been a good long term option for Sesame Street.
6
Christina, agreed. HBO is a better alternative than a Disney channel featuring loud commercials pushing sugar-laden breakfast cereals. The HBO deal may delay access, but at least HBO's business model is based around quality, commercial-free programming.
1
One of the reasons "Sesame Street" started on PBS, was to help urban youth and other disadvantaged children. PBS, even 45 years ago, had a very wide reach to accomplish this. Traditional networks, at that time, ran effectively animated cereal and toy style programming. No education value whatsoever.
While PBS has had constant funding issues, to see one of their landmark, and cornerstone programs, end up on a $12 a month subscription service is very concerning. Yes, the HBO produced shows will eventually end up on PBS, but long after reruns.
We are learning a new word today, it is called "greed". It is spelled "G-R-E E--D". Greed is when people try to get more and more money; and what they get is never enough. They try to do so, anyway they can. They do not like to share, and they may even tell lies to get the money. Greed is never good, lying is never good and greedy people can be very mean. So, mean, that you you now have to pay to see new "Sesame Street" shows. Again, "greed" it is spelled "G-R-E-E-D".
While PBS has had constant funding issues, to see one of their landmark, and cornerstone programs, end up on a $12 a month subscription service is very concerning. Yes, the HBO produced shows will eventually end up on PBS, but long after reruns.
We are learning a new word today, it is called "greed". It is spelled "G-R-E E--D". Greed is when people try to get more and more money; and what they get is never enough. They try to do so, anyway they can. They do not like to share, and they may even tell lies to get the money. Greed is never good, lying is never good and greedy people can be very mean. So, mean, that you you now have to pay to see new "Sesame Street" shows. Again, "greed" it is spelled "G-R-E-E-D".
62
Um, Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit.
6
So, are PACs, numerous charities, and some health plans. Being "non-profit" doe snot mean anything these days, except they do not pay income taxes.
5
I like the typo: "Being "non-profit" doe snot". Pretty much says it all.
2
I am guessing we have Congress to thank for this. After HBO's marketing people get their hooks into it, will the Sesame Street population look as diverse as it does now? What a shame.
17
The REPUBLICANS in Congress, to be clear. This is sad. So the wealthier kids get the "new clothes," and the poorer kids, for whom the show was developed, get the "hand-me-downs." Nice work. However, PBS funding of course has been cut and this may be the only way to go. I doubt there will be "True Detective" ads sprinkled in with Sesame St. I basically admire HBO and what they do, so I trust they'll handle this properly. However, it's a sad day in America that the funding for Sesame St had to come this way. Look at those war chests for the presidential candidates - it's really quite disgusting.
15
Does this mean we can finally stop spending taxpayer funds on the archaic unnecessary PBS?
1
Well, the Muppets have gone commercial, so why not Sesame Street? Jim Henson must be spinning in his grave.
4
What a sad commentary on our society. First we attack and paralyze our teachers, move along destroying public education through the promotion of charter schools, and now deprive the neediest of our small children from receiving a top notch preschool education. These are the children who are used to receiving hand me downs on everything, why not Sesame Street.
25
Only 15% of PBS funding comes from the Feds. And PBS is neither archaic nor unnecessary. More kids have probably learned basic math and reading skills from Sesame Street than from pre-K programs in schools.
39
On the other hand, having Sesame Street on HBO means (a) parents with HBO Go subscriptions will be able to have their kids watch recent (as opposed to archival) episodes on the go, rather than just watching Netflix-ed cartoons; (b) this gets the Sesame Workshop more financial resources than "Support of viewers by you" and takes Big Bird fairly far out of the political process (remember Mitt Romney?); and (c) PBS stations will actually end up with more rather than less Sesame Street without increasing *their* production costs.
32
Duh, this is exactly what the Mitts of America want!
1
Everybody can say this is terrible, but take a look at the facts: PBS was only providing 1/10th of the funding for the Sesame Workshop. It just wasn't realistic moving forward without more outside funding. Even so, this seems like a calculated move on HBO's part: even more so than gaining the Sesame Street brand, they are taking it away from competitors Netflix and Amazon. As others have said, this is the America we live in today.
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"even more so than gaining the Sesame Street brand, they are taking it away from competitors Netflix and Amazon."
That is the real headline here, "Control Freak Media Outlets Lose Sesame Street to Control Freak Media Outlet". If you subscribe to one pay media outlet, you must subscribe to them all; there are no "competitors" when their offerings are so fundamentally different and their managers so driven to have some of them for themselves.
Combine this with Netflix's drive to turn HTML into a proprietary DRM-friendly medium through the Encrypted Media Extensions system, and Amazon being, well, Amazon, and it's just another reason to subscribe to none of them and just take up painting with your kids or something.
That is the real headline here, "Control Freak Media Outlets Lose Sesame Street to Control Freak Media Outlet". If you subscribe to one pay media outlet, you must subscribe to them all; there are no "competitors" when their offerings are so fundamentally different and their managers so driven to have some of them for themselves.
Combine this with Netflix's drive to turn HTML into a proprietary DRM-friendly medium through the Encrypted Media Extensions system, and Amazon being, well, Amazon, and it's just another reason to subscribe to none of them and just take up painting with your kids or something.
1
While I think it's absolutely wonderful that Sesame Street will have more resources for producing its incredible program, I think it's sad that the exclusivity will limit people of less means who cannot afford an HBO subscription from watching the new episodes for 9 mos.
Particularly after the recent (rather comprehensive) study that showed that Sesame Street has actively helped children who may have otherwise fallen behind in school keep up with their peers. Sesame Street has always been a proletariat means of education. I hope the partnership will help increase the effect the program has on children who many not otherwise receive educational stimulation at home, rather than limit it to wealthier families.
Particularly after the recent (rather comprehensive) study that showed that Sesame Street has actively helped children who may have otherwise fallen behind in school keep up with their peers. Sesame Street has always been a proletariat means of education. I hope the partnership will help increase the effect the program has on children who many not otherwise receive educational stimulation at home, rather than limit it to wealthier families.
75
While I can understand the criticism of segmenting Sesame Street into the "haves" and "have nots", I really don't think it's all that big a deal that families who can't afford or don't want HBO won't get new episodes for 9 months. The alphabet and numbers don't change. A "Sesame Street" episode from 20 years ago is just as good as a new one in terms of teaching pre-schoolers the basics, just as kids still find joy in a Dr. Seuss book from 50 years ago.
24
Fine. Then let the affluent get the re-runs.
4
Sounds like you don't watch Sesame. Sesame Street only makes 18 new episodes per year. And outside of 10-20 minutes of each episode, it's all repeated material. Sesame Street is virtually all repeats as it is. If this deal means new material, then it works for everyone.
23
When I was a boy, during the late 1970s... Fat Albert was the one show I looked to for sanity every single Saturday morning. I will never have anything but gratitude for that show. And to the man who shared that with me.
6
Umm, irrelevant?
5
I am thrilled!!
Now not only are poor people thwarted in their efforts to vote, now we will make their children wait to watch Sesame Street until their wealthy Betters have devoured the shows for 9 months.
My heart is warmed.
Now not only are poor people thwarted in their efforts to vote, now we will make their children wait to watch Sesame Street until their wealthy Betters have devoured the shows for 9 months.
My heart is warmed.
76
OK, everybody is noticing this. But isn't it a little ironic (and sad) that the original and premier television show aimed at improving preschool education for millions of inner city and poor children is now available first by a pay subscription?
This pretty much sums up America right now.
This pretty much sums up America right now.
184
Well, sure, they should just let Sesame Street go bankrupt, what are they thinking funding children's programming?
20
perhaps those who could afford to be subscribers to PBS should have stepped up to help fund it.
PBS is trying desperately to generate funding for SS and not let it be cancelled and this was one way out.
PBS is trying desperately to generate funding for SS and not let it be cancelled and this was one way out.
12
No, Michael, I really don't want the program to go away. And no, I don't see an alternative, since we refuse to publicly fund it, and Tickle Me Elmo isn't paying the bills. But I still find it ironic, no matter what the rationale, that the premier show aimed at bringing early childhood education to the masses, especially the poor and inner city children, is now available first by subscription.
And for all those who feel MOOCs are the future? For all intents and purposes Sesame Street was the first MOOC. It just pre-dated the internet by a couple of decades. So what is the reality of MOOCs ever being the solution to affordable education - if the most popular and effective children's educational show needs to charge tuition to survive?
And for all those who feel MOOCs are the future? For all intents and purposes Sesame Street was the first MOOC. It just pre-dated the internet by a couple of decades. So what is the reality of MOOCs ever being the solution to affordable education - if the most popular and effective children's educational show needs to charge tuition to survive?
2
This is horrible. Sesame Street is a national treasure. I hate cable.
37