Now Streaming: Sesame Workshop, Netflix enter streaming deal

“Now Streaming” is The Fly’s weekly recap of the stories surrounding the biggest content streamers.

PLAYING THIS WEEKEND: This weekend’s most notable new streaming content is the eighth and final season of “Big Mouth”, an adult animated coming-of-age sitcom available on Netflix (NFLX). Also out this weekend for Amazon (AMZN) Prime Video is the fourth season of “Clarkson’s Farm”, a British documentary series about Jeremy Clarkson. Additionally, viewers can check out “Fountain of Youth”, an action-adventure movie starring John Krasinki and Natalie Portman on Apple TV+ (AAPL).

SESAME WORKSHOP, NETFLIX ENTER STREAMING DEAL: Sesame Workshop announced Monday that all new Sesame Street episodes are coming to Netflix worldwide along with library episodes. New episodes will also release the same day on PBS Stations and PBS Kids platforms in the U.S., preserving a 50+ year relationship. Sesame said: “The support of Netflix, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting serve as a unique public-private partnership to enable Sesame Street to continue to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.”

On Monday, JPMorgan downgraded Netflix to Neutral from Overweight with a price target of $1,220, up from $1,150. The firm said there is change to its long-term bullish view on Netflix’s streaming leadership position and the company’s potential to effectively become global TV over time. However, more near-term, following the significant stock price appreciation and outperformance, the risk/reward on the shares is becoming more balanced, the analyst said. JPMorgan believes the shares, which are at an all-time high, likely already factor in upside to its 2025 guidance. Further, if tariff and macro concerns continue to ease, rotation into other Internet names and parts of the market that have been more vulnerable and pressured is likely, the firm added.

Meanwhile, TD Cowen raised the firm’s price target on Netflix to $1,325 from $1,150 and kept a Buy rating on the shares. The firm raised its member forecast following its Upfront presentation where they cited global MAUs were up sharply from 2024.

Additionally, Oppenheimer noted Netflix hosted its 2025 Upfront advertiser event on May 14 and hosted an analyst/investor meeting on May 15. The firm highlighted that the Ad tier now has over 94M global monthly active users vs. 70M in Nov. and 40M a year ago, implying 4M monthly net adds since Nov. vs. 5M prior to Nov. Management believes the second half of the year slate is stronger than the first half, with “Squid Game” and “Stranger Things” returning for series finales, “Wednesday” returning for Season 2 and the release of blockbuster films “Apex”, “Frankenstein”, and “Happy Gilmore 2”. Oppenheimer also noted Netflix made significant progress with Netflix Ads Suite platform, with enhanced data capabilities, easier ad buying, expanded measurement and additional creative formats. Additionally, the company unveiled its two NFL Christmas Day 2025 matchups: Commanders/Cowboys and Lions/Vikings.

STREAMING SERVICES BECOMING PROFITABLE: The (CMCSA) NBCUniversal has made an offer to Major League Baseball to take over the package of regular-season and postseason games that Disney’s (DIS) ESPN is walking away from, offering much less than its rival currently pays, The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Flint and Jared Diamond reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. In February, ESPN exercised a clause to opt-out of the final three years of its $550M-per-year contract after the 2025 season. The move ended a 35-year partnership with MLB and put the rights into play for others. If the bid is successful, NBC would air games on Sunday night, the slot ESPN has occupied since 1990. Games would also appear on NBC’s sister streaming service Peacock. NBC is also interested in ESPN’s rights to the first round of the postseason and the annual Home Run Derby.

TRUMP MEDIA’S TRUTH+ BRINGS ON-DEMAND CONTENT TO ROKU: Trump Media and Technology (DJT) announced Thursday that, in addition to live TV, on-demand TV streaming content for Truth+ is now available on connected TV apps for Roku TV (ROKU) sets, giving Roku the full slate of Truth+ content.

STOCK PLAYS: Other publicly traded companies in the space include Paramount (PARA), AMC Networks (AMCX), Fox Corp. (FOX) and Warner Bros Discovery (WBD).