Sesame Street Gang Is Moving To HBO
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- After decades on PBS, the show that has been watched by just about every American kid under 40, is moving.
Sesame Street is going to HBO.
Time Warner Inc. announced a deal last week to bring Bert, Ernie, Big Bird and the gang to HBO for the next five seasons.
Sesame Workshop's top exec Jeffrey Dunn cited changing viewing habits for the move. Parents' smartphones and tablets are replacing the old television set. He told the Los Angeles Times two-thirds of kids now watch the show on-demand. There is simply not enough revenue to pay for new content.
"It was pretty obvious we had a situation that was a result of that changing behavior."
HBO Chief Executive and Chairman Richard Plepler applauded the deal saying Sesame Street "stands for excellence. It didn't require much contemplation when the opportunity came to us."
The details of the agreement are not yet public, but the move to HBO reportedly will allow Sesame Workshop to increase programming output from 18 to 35 new episodes a season.
Episodes will premiere on HBO and air on PBS nine months later.
CBSSF.com writer, producer Jan Mabry is also executive producer and host of The Bronze Report. She lives in Northern California. Follow her on Twitter @janmabr.