Fifty years ago today, Jan. 4, Sesame Street first aired in Germany by broadcaster NDR. Since then, almost 3,000 episodes of Sesamstraße have taught kids about confidence, friendship, and kindness.
“In 2023, we have the pleasure of celebrating an extraordinary partnership with NDR,” says Stefan Kastenmüller, Sesame Workshop General Manager for Europe. “For 50 years, we have been bringing laughter and learning to children and their families with our beloved characters in the co-production of Sesamstraße in Germany. With NDR, Sesame Workshop has a partner at its side that is as serious as it is creative. Together we have reached generations of families in Germany with our educational content and values. Celebrating differences and embracing similarities, helping children feel confident and proud of who they are, that’s what Sesame Street has stood for since its creation. We sincerely thank everyone who has supported our mission with Sesamstraße over the past decades.”
Sesamstraße airs on NDR and KiKa. The 50th anniversary episode will air on KiKa on Jan. 8 at 5:25 p.m. CEST.
“NDR has cultivated and constantly developed Sesamstraße in Germany for generations of children, and has thus also created a classic of children’s television in Germany with its own stories from the American Sesame Street,” says Frank Beckmann, NDR Program Director. “Sesamstraße is a children’s program with a public service profile and a long tradition. Entertainment that educates children – pedagogically valuable and hilarious at the same time.”
NDR will also celebrate Sesamstraße’s birthday with a concert featuring the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and fan-favorite Sesame Street characters at the Great Hall of the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.
