HBO Max removes nearly 200 episodes of ‘Sesame Street’

The change comes after HBO Max announced earlier this week that it would remove 36 titles from its lineup in preparation for a merger with Discovery Plus into a single streaming platform.

“As we work towards bringing our content catalog under one platform, we will be transitioning to the content offerings available on both HBO Max and Discovery+,” the statement said. “This would include the removal of certain content from both platforms.”

The ‘Sesame Street’ model is inclusive, but it has left black audiences behind

Some of the works that are missing from HBO Max include the teen drama “Generation,” the “Sesame Street” spinoff “The Not-to-Late-Show With Elmo,” and the animated series “Aquaman: King of Atlantis.” The streaming platform also announced last month that all eight “Harry Potter” movies would be shelved. Other shows, such as the comedy series “Mrs. Fletcher” and the rock-and-roll drama “Vinyl” were pulled without any direct announcement.

HBO Max didn’t announce why TV shows and movies were being cut from the service, but the move would help the company save money that used to go toward residual payments.

,Sesame Street An HBO Max representative wrote in a statement and television has always been an important part of the culture and is the crown jewel of our preschool offering. “We are committed to continuing to bring Sesame Street In Families’ Homes, including the latest season to premiere this fall and nearly 400 episodes of the most current and historic season ever aired on Cartoonito on HBO Max. ,

Representatives for Sesame Workshop did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“Sesame Street” first aired on PBS in 1969, introducing Big Bird, Kermit the Frog, and Cookie Monster to early-generation Xers starting preschool and kindergarten. It began airing on HBO in 2016 and then on HBO Max in 2020.

The decision attracted many fans to tweet their discontent.

“I deeply and really hate it. I watch Sesame Street with my kids,” a twitter user wrote. “My eldest is at an age where he has specific episodes that he loves to re-watch.”

“It’s so sad that a child like my brother has lost access to one of their favorite things and there is no explanation a parent can give them,” another person commented.

“Sesame Street”, which airs on PBS, is widely celebrated for accessible children’s education and its commitment to portraying diversity and inclusion.

“The show was created to give children from low-income families access to early education they might otherwise miss out on,” said another fan, arguing that the kids show “should be a free public resource, Not something you need a subscription to access.”