In a very non-traditional move HBO, which is best known for dark and adult themed fare like the Supranos, Deadwood and Game of Thrones has acquired exclusive rights for first run episodes of Sesame Street. The show which will still be produced by the Children’s Television Workshop will remain the same. The biggest difference will be that the number of episodes that will be produced will grow from 18-35. While this announcement likely surprises parents and kids alike the parties involved believe it is a great matchup of two iconic brands.

“Our new partnership with HBO represents a true winning public-private partnership model,” said Jeffrey D. Dunn, Sesame Workshop’s CEO. “It provides Sesame Workshop with the critical funding it needs to be able to continue production of Sesame Streetand secure its nonprofit mission of helping kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder; it gives HBO exclusive pay cable and SVOD access to the nation’s most important and historic educational programming; and it allows Sesame Street to continue to air on PBS and reach all children, as it has for the past 45 years.”

Does this Mean I have to get HBO for my kids to Watch Sesame Street
No. Not at all. Sesame Street will still be available on PBS stations 9 months after they debut on HBO.

In addition to Sesame Street, HBO will also license approximately 50 past episodes of the two acclaimed children’s series Pinky Dinky Doo, an animated series for preschoolers that focuses on early literacy, and The Electric Company, which was rebooted in 2009, from Sesame Workshop.