Apple, Sesame Workshop to Create Programming for Subscription Service
21 June 2018 - 3:52AM
Dow Jones News
By Joe Flint
Apple Inc. said it is forming a partnership with Sesame Workshop
to create children's programming for its planned subscription video
service.
The pact is the latest in a slew of deals Apple has struck in
recent months for content including an agreement last week for
Oprah Winfrey to create programming for the as-yet unnamed video
service.
Under the terms of the contract, Apple has ordered multiple
series from Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit media and educational
platform best known for the long-running show "Sesame Street."
Shows will be live-action, animated as well as one featuring
puppets, according to a person close to Apple.
"Sesame Street" isn't part of the agreement. That show airs on
AT&T Inc.'s HBO and PBS as part of a five-year partnership
struck in 2015.
The Sesame agreement indicates that Apple's service will be
broad-based. It has also ordered several sitcoms and dramas aimed
at an adult audience, including a program about the morning
television news business starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese
Witherspoon.
Apple has committed to spending $1 billion on content. Its video
play is being overseen by former Sony TV executives Jamie Erlicht
and Zack Van Amburg. The pair were involved in the development of
several successful shows at Sony, including "The Crown" and
"Breaking Bad."
Apple has yet to say when its direct-to-consumer video service
will debut but people close to the company say it is expected to
launch next year.
Write to Joe Flint at joe.flint@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 20, 2018 13:37 ET (17:37 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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