Families who enjoy watching "Sesame Street" on HBO Max may find the library short of more than 200 episodes after the streaming site took these down to allegedly reduce their payment obligations.
Warner Bros. Discovery, the owner of HBO Max, confirmed to Variety that hundreds of "Sesame Street" episodes, along with other programs, have been purged as part of a business decision and transition. Apparently, by mid-2023, HBO Max will merge with their other streaming service, Discovery+, which means there will be more content to replace those removed.
However, some parents took to Twitter to complain about the abrupt removal of the "Sesame Street" episodes. One mom posted that her children have been watching the classic episodes where Big Bird was rebuilding his nest after a hurricane. They won't be able to find the episode anymore as these were included in the purge.
Another mom pointed out that some removed episodes were award-winning stories and "Sesame Street" gems. A parent also lamented the deleted episodes because these were her child's comfort show. She described the removal as "soul-crushing" for a little girl.
Alternates to HBO Max
In response, the official Twitter account of "Sesame Street" assured parents and their young fans that they could still watch the missing episodes for free since there is a YouTube library for all of them. This week, the show has also opened an official TikTok account via @SesameStreet, which means there are more platforms for families to consume content from their beloved long-running children's show.
@sesamestreet Yip, you read that right. #SesameStreet ♬ original sound - sesamestreet
The move to TikTok caters to the 20s and the under 40s who grew up watching the series but are likely not watching the daily shows anymore. Many of the TikTok channel comments are from young adults who are enjoying the sense of nostalgia.
Those in the U.S., however, will still have unlimited access to "Sesame Street" episodes, whether the classics or the latest releases, since PBS carries the program on its local stations.
"Sesame Street the Musical" almost ready to open on Off-Broadway
Meanwhile, the upcoming staging of the "Sesame Street the Musical" is gearing up for its big opening night on Thursday, September 8, at the Theater Row on Off-Broadway in New York. The production, made in collaboration with Sesame Workshop and Rockefeller Productions, will run until November 27 and feature new songs from Helen Park, Tom Kitt, and Nate Edmondson.
Characters like Grover, Elmo, Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, and many more will be in the musical, along with several surprise celebrity guest stars from the world of theater. The stage presentation was made to delight both the young and young-at-heart. "Sesame Street the Musical" is billed as a fun show for all ages, per People.
Related Article: Scary 'Sesame Street' Episode, Which Got Complaints From Parents, Emerges Online After 40 Years
