New Children’s Series Makes Debut on Indonesian Broadcaster

JAKARTA/NEW YORK, February
13: A new children’s series from Sesame Workshop, titled Jalan Sesama, will premiere next week on the Indonesian channel
Trans7.

Produced by nonprofit
educational organization Sesame Workshop in association with Jakarta-based
Creative Indigo Production, Jalan Sesama features some furry friends, along with a few celebrity guests,
helping children learn basic cognitive and social skills, while representing
the vibrant diversity of the country's vast archipelago. The 52 half-hour
episodes aim to address issues affecting preschoolers in Indonesia, from
encouraging healthy habits to dealing with the aftermath of a flood.
Live-action and animated films are woven throughout each episode.

In addition to the series,
Gramedia Publishing will begin producing Jalan Sesama magazine, a monthly children’s publication with
games and activities featuring Muppet characters. The magazine is slated for an
April debut.

Funding for the series is
provided in part by the U.S. government through the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID).

“We are thrilled to
introduce Jalan Sesama, which
represents the many faces and places of Indonesia, to our young viewers,” said
Robby T. Winarka, the managing director of Creative Indigo Production.
“Utilizing music, humor, and some famous friends, the series encourages
interaction and exploration in homes and beyond!”

“Collaborating with our
local partners on the ground—Creative Indigo Production, Trans7 and the
United States Agency for International Development—we’ve created
wonderful storylines and colorful characters that we hope will resonate with
the children of Indonesia,” said Ginger Brown, Sesame Workshop’s executive
producer for Jalan Sesama. “The
series, full of laughter, adventure, and surprises, encourages viewers to
appreciate and celebrate the diversity that surrounds them.”

“Jalan Sesama is one of Trans7’s response to our audience who
greatly show their appreciation for education and entertainment programs which
we have committed to in our program lineup,” noted Achmad Ferizqo Irwan, the
programming general manager of Trans7. “Jalan Sesama is also expected to enhance our image in providing
good-quality and safe programming for the family audience with the hopes that we
will help increase children’s intelligence through edu-tainment programs.”

—By Ned Berke