What was Sesame Workshop called until June 2000?

Sesame Workshop was called the Children’s Television Workshop until June 2000.

The Children’s Television Workshop, commonly abbreviated CTW, was established in 1968 to create Sesame Street. Its name emphasized the organization’s original mission: combining television production with educational research and curriculum development for young children.

The organization changed its name to Sesame Workshop on June 5, 2000. The change reflected an expanded mission that included interactive media, digital learning, international initiatives, and educational work beyond traditional television. The rebranding also helped the organization connect its identity more directly with Sesame Street, its most famous creation.

This history explains why older references to Sesame Street often credit the Children’s Television Workshop, while newer references credit Sesame Workshop. They are the same nonprofit organization under two successive names, not two separate producers. Another related change occurred around the same period when the Workshop acquired rights to the Sesame Street Muppets, strengthening its control over the brand and characters.