Total Licensing caught up with Gabriela Arenas, SVP Global Licensing at Sesame Workshop to find out the latest from one of the world’s most loved and enduring brands.
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INTERVIEW
Gabriela Arenas, SVP, Global Licensing, Sesame Workshop Sesame Street is coming to Netflix! Tell us about that. It’s true—with our new distribution deal, the world’s most beloved Street is getting even longer! We’re beyond excited to reach more kids and families than ever before with new episodes of the iconic children’s series coming to Netflix worldwide and PBS KIDS in the U.S. later this year. This unique public-private partnership will enable us to bring our research-based curriculum and engaging content to young children around the world with Netflix’s global reach, while ensuring that children in communities across the U.S. continue to have free access on public television to the Sesame Street they love. Fans can expect new ways to play along as Cookie Monster opens his very own Cookie Cart on Sesame Street, and Abby welcomes us into her Fairy Garden, home to surprising and delightful magical creatures. A new animated segment, “Tales
from 123,” takes viewers INSIDE the famous brownstone, where they can explore the wacky and whimsical building their favorite furry friends call home. Sesame Street is an international powerhouse and a staple for children & families across the globe. Aside from the forthcoming global launch on Netflix, what else is happening with the brand around the world? We’re committed to strengthening our connection with fans worldwide, building on our strong presence in the Asian and Pacific markets. We recently announced a multi-year licensing agreement with Max-Matching to bring immersive Sesame Streetthemed Family Entertainment Centers (FECs) to China. The centers aim to set a new benchmark by combining educational play with imaginative,
engaging activities. In addition, the Sesame Street x LINE Friends collab launched in China, Japan, Korea and the U.S.The collab spans multiple categories—from apparel and accessories, to gifts and collectibles, to housewares and home décor and more—and is available now at Miniso stores in China and the U.S. and will launch in other territories later this fall. In Australia, David Bromley—one of the country’s most celebrated artists and lifelong Sesame Street fan—has brought the