Sesame Street will return to Japan after 17 years. Sony Group said it had reacquired the rights to the children's TV show for Japan.
Sony Group will bring the children's show and its characters to TVs, merchandise, music and video games. The company said it had a new license agreement with Sesame Workshop through its subsidiary Sony Creative Products.
Sony previously acquired a license in 1989. That expired in 2004 and Sony opted not to renew it. The company will reintroduce the brand through merchandising - including apparel and other goods. It will then expand the partnership through other mediums.
In 1971, Sesame Street became part of the regular programming for public broadcaster NHK. The show helped children learn English. It gained a strong following across many ages. NHK stopped airing the series in 2004.
Sony will work with Sesame Workshop on content for Japan audiences. It will fully restore the show as part of regular programming and eventually offer it through online streaming.
Sony will explore other possible business opportunities. These include possible education mobile video games and titles for its PlayStation video games.
Sony is facing competition in the segment, which includes video games, music and movies, from foreign companies such as Netflix, Microsoft and Walt Disney.
"In addition to conventional licensing, we want to work with the entire Sony Group this time to create business opportunities," Sony Creative Products President Ken Ohtake said.
Some of Sony's recent spending has been on its acquisition of anime streaming service Crunchyroll, Fortnite developer Epic Games and UK podcast developer Somethin' Else.
