“Sesame Street” has begun releasing new episodes of its seminal series, this time not in the free confines of PBS but in the premium cable world of HBO.

While episodes eventually will air for free on PBS, there will be a delay of nine months from the original air date. Writes The New York Times‘ James Poniewozik, “PBS will offer half-hour ‘best-of’ episodes in the meantime, and it’s not as though scientists are discovering new numbers and letters; but it is dissonant to promote the new format as improved and newly relevant while also arguing that it doesn’t matter how soon children see them. Maybe the reality is an unpalatable one to say in so many words: Like the newest digital tablet, the latest ‘Sesame Street’ isn’t an essential, but it’s nice if your parents happen to have the money.” (New York Times)