More Bad News for Sesame Street
By Movieguide® Contributor
Sesame Workshop is laying off employees as they continue their search for a new TV or streaming home for SESAME STREET.
“Amid the changing media and funding landscape, we have made the difficult decision to reduce the size of our organization,” a spokesperson for Sesame Workshop told The Hollywood Reporter. “These changes are necessary to ensure that the Workshop is poised to continue to deliver on its mission for years to come, but that does not make the human impact of these reductions any less painful. As production of our 56th Season begins next month, we remain as committed as ever to bringing SESAME STREET to children and families for decades to come.”
Season 56 of SESAME STREET will be the first season to be released following the end of the show’s deal with HBO. Sesame Workshop has promised new episodes will feature a brand new format, as well as a signature song for each episode.
Previous episodes of SESAME STREET will still be available to stream on Max until 2027.
“We are excited to extend our 10-year partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, keeping SESAME STREET’s iconic library available on Max through 2027,” a spokesperson for Sesame Workshop said. “We will continue to invest in our best-in-class programming and look forward to announcing our new distribution plans in the coming months, ensuring that SESAME STREET reaches as many children as possible for generations to come.”
These layoffs also come after Sesame Workshop employees “overwhelmingly demonstrated support” to unionize with Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU).
“SESAME STREET has taught generations the importance of kindness, fairness and standing up for what’s right,” Phoebe Gilpin, senior director of formal learning with Sesame Workshop, said in a statement. “As the dedicated staff behind this beloved show and so much more, we believe Sesame Workshop should embody those same values by ensuring all workers have a voice in the decisions that affect us. By coming together, we believe we can build a stronger, more supportive workplace that embodies the crucial lessons we teach the world’s children every day.”
SESAME STREET’s cast and crew have long been unionized. This latest demonstration is to seek union representation for Sesame Workshop’s administrative workers.
- Content: +3Share:
- Content: +2