For "Sesame Street," a new road leads to HBO.
The Time Warner pay-cable service said it would license the next five seasons of the venerable program, which has taught preschoolers for decades about numbers, letters, emotional development and the joys of a rubber duckie.
"Sesame Street" will still appear on PBS, which has aired the program since 1969. But new episodes will first appear on HBO, and then be provided to PBS after a pre-determined window of time.
It was disclosed yesterday that PBS would run only half-hour episodes of "Sesame Street" in the fall, as opposed to a full hour — which has been the norm for years.
Under the pact, Sesame Workshop, the producer of the series, will also produce a "Sesame Street Muppet" spin-off series for HBO, and develop a new original educational series for children.