Buzz
When Sesame Street first aired in 1969, it attracted interest from a variety of international producers, educators, and government officials who were eager to adapt the show for their own nations. Show creator Joan Ganz Cooney was taken aback: “To be frank, I was really surprised, because we thought we were creating the quintessential American show," she reflected. "We thought the Muppets were quintessentially American, and it turns out they’re the most international characters ever created.”
Early research for Sesame Street co-productions began in countries such as Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, France, Israel, Germany, and several Caribbean nations. Brazil's Vila Sésamo became the first international co-production to air in 1972, running for five years before being revived in 2007.
However, some nations deemed Sesame Street too controversial for public broadcasting. The United Kingdom rejected the creation of a local version, though they aired the American edition intermittently from 1971 to 2001. Additionally, Mississippi famously banned the show in May 1970.
CTW executives collaborated with representatives from each nation to design a tailored curriculum that addressed the specific needs of each country's children. Each co-production was developed with its own set of characters, sets, and educational objectives, and American cast members trained local puppeteers.
The aim of every Sesame Street co-production is to offer children in each country a show that mirrors their national culture, values, and educational priorities. The goal is to blend universal life lessons with local cultural elements. For example, in 2003, South Africa's Takalani Sesame introduced the first HIV-positive Muppet, named Kami, to address the country's AIDS crisis. Meanwhile, Russia’s Ulitsa Sezam, which premiered in 1996, focused on preparing children for life in a “new open society,” though the show is no longer aired. Some co-productions, like Shara’a Simsim in Palestine and Hikayat Simsim in Jordan, aimed to foster peace and understanding in regions affected by conflict.
In some countries, local broadcasters air dubbed versions of the American Sesame Street or mix in scenes from the U.S. version with country-specific material, but these are not regarded as official co-productions.
By 2006, there were 20 official co-productions around the world. According to the New York Times in 2005, revenue from these co-productions was approximately $96 million. By the show's 40th anniversary in 2009, Sesame Street was broadcast in over 140 countries. Today, there are 34 official Sesame Street co-productions. Here's the list of their names.
1. Afghanistan: Baghch-e-Simsim
2. Australia: Open Sesame
3. Bangladesh: Sisimpur
4. Brazil: Vila Sésamo
5. Canada: Sesame Park
6. China (Mandarin): Zhima Jie
7. Colombia: Plaza Sésamo
8. Denmark: Sesamgade
9. Egypt: Alam Simsim
10. France: 5, Rue Sésame
11. Germany: Sesamstrasse
12. India: Galli Galli Sim Sim
13. Indonesia: Jalan Sesama
14. Israel: Rechov Sumsum
15. Japan: Sesame Street Japan
16. Jordan: Hikayat Sesame
17. Kosovo: Rruga Sesam
18. Kuwait: Iftah Ya Simsim
19. Mexico: Plaza Sésamo
20. Netherlands: Sesamstraat
21. Nigeria: Sesame Square
22. Northern Ireland: Sesame Tree
23. Norway: Sesam Stasjon
24. Pakistan: Sim Sim Hamara
25. Palestine: Shara’a Simsim
26. Philippines: Sesame!
27. Poland: Ulica Sezamkowa
28. Portugal: Rua Sésamo
29. Russia: Ulitsa Sezam
30. South Africa: Takalani Sesame
31. Spain: Barrio Sésamo
32. Sweden: Svenska Sesam
33. Turkey: Susam Skokali
34. United Kingdom: Play With Me Sesame
