I don't have a problem with it, just so long as they can keep the hour-long and half-hour versions. An hour is a long time by kids show-standards, but there's a lot more they can put in it.
I don't like the cynical reasoning behind it... the whole aspect for it to be tailor made for yuppies with tablets and phones so full of apps, they don't even bother with any other viewing media, mainly because they can shut kids up on a shopping trip (or even ruder, in a restaurant). It makes Sesame Street a lot less accessible to the original demographic. Poor kids are still a thing. I know full well the economics and realities of television are changing. But this seems like a move pandering to iPad users.
However, watching the full hour episodes, it's
painfully obvious they can't even fill the full hour without reusing the heck out of current segments, sometimes twice a season. And they only use HD unless they don't. Like there's no reasoning behind it. And for some reason, Ernie and Bert are for
foreign markets only! Enjoy the same celebrity/parody segment from a few episodes ago a second time. You don't even have to watch the show anymore, since it posts everything online. No tenth time with an Abby episode.
So a half hour Sesame may not seem so bad, it's just they aren't using that half hour wisely, and old street stories should be cobbled together with different segments. But time and money, it's cheaper and easier to just cut something down.
BTW, anyone else notice the Count sings about 6 kids song was edited too? The line about "This is my favorite song about six" was missing.