SYNONYMOUS WORLDWIDE with excellence in educational entertaining media for children, Sesame Street covers over 120 countries. International superstars like Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster and Elmo. Local favourites like Alfa (Norway and Finland), Pedzipotwór (Poland) and Zeliboba (Russia). Every child has its own favourite in the Sesame Street universe, but all over the world, these beloved characters prove that learning is fun and rewarding - when whimsy, wit and style are part of it.

TM/© Sesame Workshop

Programming from the US Sesame Street show is exported into hundreds of countries worldwide. There are also several international co-productions of the show, reflecting local languages, customs and educational needs and also including local characters. Sesame programming is currently, or will soon be broadcasted in Sweden on SVT; Norway on NRK; Denmark on DR; Iceland on RUV; Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia on MiniMax; and in Poland on Mini Mini.

Sesame Workshop has been called the largest single teacher of pre-school children on the planet. More than 18 million copies of Sesame Street publishing products were sold worldwide in 2005 alone. Sesame Street is also a strong brand in licensing and merchandising.

Sesame Street is the only children's television program to win an Emmy for "Outstanding Children's Series" six years in a row. Sesame Workshop has been awarded with 109 Emmys, more Emmys than any other show in television history.

When Sesame Street was born in 1969, it was virtually the only educational TV program for children. Since then, it has grown into a multi-faceted brand. But the unique ideology, attitude and approach to children's learning remain intact: the target group is pre-school children, and the show utilizes a wide range of learning styles, paying equal attention to children's cognitive, emotional and social development.

The show remains supportive and respectful of children's natural enthusiasm for learning about the complex and dynamic world around them - including sometimes more difficult topics, such as anger, sadness and separation.

Sesame Street is the children's education brand that is:
- uniquely charming and innovative
- uniquely authentic about feelings and values
- uniquely authentic in its depiction of the child's world
- exactly right for early preschoolers
- committed to helping the whole child develop and grow in today's complex world

Some of the international Sesame Street characters are:

- Ernie, free spirited and outgoing. He is constantly trying to get his pal Bert involved in fun and games which usually end up to Bert's disadvantage. He often teases, but his games and jokes are never meant to hurt. Ernie is also good at explaining things. Sometimes he is too smart for his own good, falling prey to his own jokes or getting caught in his own explanations.

- Bert is the long-suffering, serious and often eccentric sidekick to Ernie. The straight man of the team, he seems the older of the two Ð more domestic, responsible and analytical. Basically affectionate, Bert always forgives Ernie his jokes, remaining Ernie's "old buddy Bert". His favourite things are bottle cap and paper clip collecting, brass band music and his pet pigeon, Bernice.

- Cookie Monster, the lovable and affectionate google-eyed monster, was originally solely a cookie gobbler. Over the years he has become much more nutrition conscious, and even though cookies are still his favourite, he has acquired a taste for everything from apples to zucchini. He also eats non-food stuff! Cookie speaks in "monster language" which is simple and direct, i.e. "Me want cookie".

- Big Bird is a very big six-year-old yellow bird who is "everychild". Big Bird gets excited over new things and disappointed when things don't work out or when he makes mistakes. He is willing to try again, correct his mistakes and find solutions to problems. He possesses a broad range of universal emotions.

- Elmo is a small, red Muppet with a high-pitched voice and the traits of a three-year-old child. Like Cookie Monster, Elmo speaks a "monster language" that younger children can identify with. He never uses pronouns, often referring to himself by name: "Elmo wants to go to the park". Enthusiastic, friendly and cheerful, he always wants to be a part of everything that goes on.

- Grover is a loveable, furry, wide-eyed blue monster who sees the world from a four-year-old point of view. Excitable and compulsive, he is always willing to help, but he rushes into things without thinking of the consequences. He has limited experience and few analytical skills, so he usually ends up doing things the long way around. Children identify with his difficulties when trying to be helpful and with his long suffering bewilderment with adult's logic. They also identify with his fantasy as Super Grover as a way of feeling more confident and competent.

Plus Licens represents Sesame Workshop for merchandising, promotional, publishing, home video and audio rights to Sesame Street in the Nordic countries and Eastern Europe.