Quick Takes
Sesame Workshop advances in $100M MacArthur Foundation competition
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In partnership with the International Rescue Committee, Sesame is among four organizations that advanced in the competition to address a big, complex global problem.
Education
Updated ‘Sesame’ curriculum includes early-learning initiatives at stations
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The show’s characters and lessons will be featured in programs bringing educational resources to providers and parents.
System/Policy
Big Bird’s finances come under scrutiny at House budget hearing
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Where are the tax returns, Big Bird?
Development
Sesame Workshop named semifinalist in $100M MacArthur Foundation grant competition
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Its proposal, one of eight selected as semifinalists, targets children who face violence, limited access to education, loss of loved ones and other challenges.
Programs/Content
Veteran ‘Sesame Street’ actors to meet with producers over future roles
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“I have been in touch with each of them to meet in person,” Sesame Workshop CEO Jeffrey Dunn said.
System/Policy
Sesame Ventures collaboration to back children-oriented startups
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The nonprofit workshop is partnering with the investment firm Collaborative Fund.
Programs/Content
Sesame Workshop–HBO deal sparks soul-searching among public broadcasters
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“It seems to me there is something depressing about all this,” lamented PBS’s ombudsman.
Sesame Street
What we’re reading about the Sesame–HBO deal
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Reactions to the deal that are worth your time.
Programs/Content
Reactions to the Sesame Street–HBO deal
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Some of our favorite responses to the big announcements.
Programs/Content
HBO to premiere new ‘Sesame Street’ shows, provide them for free to PBS in 5-year deal
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New Sesame Street episodes will premiere exclusively on HBO starting this fall and will be available to PBS after nine months.
Quick Takes
Friday roundup: Spot.us, Radiolab’s Austin tour, lessons from Sesame Workshop and more
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What we’ve been reading this week.
Programs/Content
The doctors are in as Sesame Workshop tackles effects of mass incarceration
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Two doctors who focus on the relationship between incarceration and public health have teamed up with a Sesame Street Muppet to call attention to the issue. Prompted by Sesame Workshop’s “Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration” initiative, the video released in October features two experts on prison health, the creator of the Sesame Workshop initiative and Alex, a Muppet with electric blue hair and an incarcerated father. The video followed the publication of “Sesame Street Goes to Jail: Physicians Should Follow,” an article in the medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine. Drs. Dora Dumont, Scott Allen and Jody Rich called for physicians to pay more attention to mass incarceration and took note of Sesame Street’s involvement.
Quick Takes
Tuesday roundup: Orman leaves CNBC, Burns pops up in Interstellar
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Plus: Sesame Workshop’s SVOD strategy, and a new website from Fred Rogers Co.
People
Former HiT president to take over leadership of Sesame Workshop
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Sesame Workshop has hired Jeffrey D. Dunn, former CEO of the HiT Entertainment Network, as its new CEO.
Programs/Content
Times Square’s unlicensed Elmos spell headaches for Sesame Workshop
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Unruly street performers have prompted the children’s TV producer to consider legal action and a city councilman to propose a new law.
Quick Takes
Friday roundup: Smartbinge boosts WNYC traffic; McKibben praises podcasts
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Plus: A controversial film spurs letters to PBS’s ombud, and Cookie Monster stars in a new app.
Quick Takes
Friday roundup: PRX enlists Jacapps for station apps; FCC divulges data on interference
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Plus: an interview with the creator of Vicious, and a boost for Reading Rainbow from Seth MacFarlane.
Quick Takes
Wednesday roundup: Sesame Go app launches; Pacifica heads to court
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Plus: CBC braces for huge losses, and the Fred Rogers Center honors Yo-Yo Ma.
Quick Takes
Thursday roundup: Ruiz gets Sundance fellowship, new Muppet helps kids stay clean
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• Filmmaker Bernardo Ruiz (The Graduates/Los Graduados, Reportero) has received the Time Warner Fellowship from the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program to work on his latest doc, Recolectores (The Gatherers). As a fellow, Ruiz will get services from the institute including mentoring, grant assistance and attendance at its famous film festival. Joshua Oppenheimer (The Act of Killing) also got a production/post-production grant in this round of Sundance awards, which went to 35 filmmakers out of 750 applications from 93 countries. • Sesame Workshop is participating in this week’s annual Reinvent The Toilet Fair: India, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation event that showcases the latest in modern hygiene for developing nations. Making her debut at the fair is new Muppet Raya, who always wears her sandals to the latrine and washes her hands with soap.
Quick Takes
Friday roundup: indies protest to WETA; schools to use WGBH shows
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And the produce market gets a deal on Sesame Street’s brand.