The children’s television show Sesame Street has been on public television for 45 years. As part of a partnership, new episodes will now premiere on the cable premium channel, HBO. KMUW’s Carla Eckels checks out what that means for Wichita viewers.
Sesame Workshop, the production company of the iconic pre-school education program recently struck a deal with HBO to air Sesame Street first on their cable network for the next 5 seasons.
With new funding, Sesame Workshop will be able to nearly double the amount of new content.
After nine months, they will make the program available for free to PBS member stations.
KPTS President and CEO Michele Gors says PBS will continue to offer new episodes already produced and some reruns in the interim.
She says part of the PBS mission is to offer educational content free to everyone.
"We're free, we're over the air, we're available for all children no matter what they're background or whatever poverty may exist in their home," Gors says. “It’s important and continues to be even more important that children get access to those kinds of programs that they can’t get anywhere else.”
Sesame Street was the first show to ever air on KPTS, 45 years ago.
