Sesame Workshop lawsuit could threaten future of Sesame Place in Pennsylvania
THEIR FATE. WE WILL SHOW YOU HOW THAT PLAYED OUT. WGAL NEWS 8. TODAY STARTS NOW. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. 430 ON THIS THURSDAY. I’M MATT BARCARO. I’M KATELYN SMITH CHECKING IN WITH CHIEF METEOROLOGIST. CHRISTINE FERREIRA A LITTLE MILDER TODAY. NOT BAD. I LIKE 50 SOUNDS GOOD. YESTERDAY WAS NICE THOUGH, TOO. SURE WAS. IT WAS NICE. REALLY COLD. IT DIDN’T FEEL AS BAD IN THE AFTERNOON. SUN IS WARM AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR FOR SURE. LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT WE HAVE OUTSIDE. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A SPRINKLE OR A FLURRY OVERNIGHT, BUT THAT PROBABLY WASN’T EVEN REACHING THE GROUND AS A WARM FRONT LIFTING NORTH. AND THAT’S GOING TO GIVE US WARMER WEATHER TODAY. TEMPERATURE WISE, NOT AS BAD AS YESTERDAY. 33 IN SELINSGROVE, 32 IN LEBANON, 32 IN LANCASTER. WE’RE AT 34 WITH LIGHT WINDS IN YORK. SO WIND SPEEDS REALLY JUST 5 TO 10MPH THIS MORNING. HERE’S A LOOK AT THE 12 HOUR FORECAST. CLOUDS HANG TOUGH NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS AND WE SHOULD SEE MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. OUR HIGH WILL TOUCH 50 WITH A STRAY SPRINKLE POSSIBLE. SO A LITTLE MORE CLOUD COVER TODAY. BUT THEN WE GET INTO THE 60S. AS WE HEAD TOWARD THE WEEKEND. WE’LL TALK ABOUT THAT COMING UP. ALL RIGHT. WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE GAS LEAK AND DEADLY EXPLOSION AT THIS CANDY FACTORY IN BERKS COUNTY. THREE YEARS AGO, THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSIONER, PUC, IS ASKING A JUDGE TO FIND UGI GAS UTILITY $2.6 MILLION AT THE R M PALMER FACTORY IN WEST READING. PUC REGULATORS ARGUE THAT UGI GAS EQUIPMENT AT THE FACTORY VIOLATED STATE AND FEDERAL RULES. THIS WAS BACK IN MARCH OF 2023. THAT BLAST KILLED SEVEN WORKERS AND HURT TEN OTHERS. IT ALSO DESTROYED A FACTORY BUILDING AND AN APARTMENT BUILDING. THE PUC SAYS 72 EMPLOYEES WERE WORKING THERE AT THE TIME. I WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THESE ALLEGATIONS BEFORE THE COMMISSION DETERMINES WHETHER THE VIOLATIONS OCCURRED AND THE PENALTIES THE COMPANY COULD FACE. UGI SENT A STATEMENT TO NEWS EIGHT, SAYING IT IS REVIEWING THE COMPLAINT, WE’RE HEARING FROM THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER KEEPERS AFTER THE ASSOCIATION SUED TO SHUT DOWN J AND K SALVAGE IN YORK COUNTY. THE SUIT COMES WEEKS AFTER THE RIVERKEEPER’S SAY THAT THE FIRE AT THE SALVAGE YARD CAUSED OILY MATERIAL TO SEEP INTO THE CREEK. THE RIVERKEEPER’S SAY ITS GOAL IS TO CLOSE J IN CASE OPERATIONS UNTIL IT CAN GET A POLLUTANT DISCHARGE PERMIT. RIVERKEEPER SAYS THAT TESTING AFTER THE FIRE FOUND HEAVY METALS IN THE RIVER. WE’RE LOOKING AT. PROBABLY FOR ALL THE CONTAINMENT MEASURES TO COME OUT, PROBABLY ANOTHER 2 TO 3 WEEKS, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE’VE GOT EVERYTHING SCRUBBED UP, CLEAN AND GOOD TO GO BEFORE WE TURN IT BACK OVER TO ITS NATURAL PROCESSES. AND THEY STILL ARE CLEANING THE CREEK. IT’S 433 AND WE ARE HEARING FROM FAMILY MEMBERS IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY WHO LOST THEIR HOME IN A FIRE LAST WEEK. SO THIS HAPPENED FRIDAY NIGHT IN CRESSMAN CIRCLE IN LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP. JENNIFER AND WADE PAULIDES SAY THEY WERE PUTTING THEIR THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO BED WHEN THAT FIRE STARTED. THEY ARE NOW ALL STAYING AT AN AIRBNB AND SAY THE NEIGHBORS ARE HELPING THEM. THE COUPLE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT’S IMPACTING THEIR DAUGHTER, THOUGH SHE SAW THE FIRE. SHE’S BEEN ASKING TO GO HOME. SHE WANTS CERTAIN THINGS, LIKE HER LITTLE SNACK TABLE, STUFF LIKE THAT. SO SHE’S ASKING, SHE’S LIKE, WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HOUSE? SO SHE’S HAVING A HARD TIME. WE’RE TRYING TO JUST KIND OF NORMALIZE IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN. THE FAMILY SAYS IT IS PLANNING TO DEMOLISH THAT HOUSE AND THEN REBUILD IN THE SAME LOCATION. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP THE FAMILY WITH THAT. WE DO HAVE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE, WGAL.COM. THE RED CROSS WILL INSTALL SMOKE DETECTORS IN YOUR HOUSE AS PART OF ITS SOUND ALARM. THE ALARM INITIATIVE WILL DO THIS FOR FREE. THIS IS A STORY WE BROUGHT YOU ON FRIDAY. NOW, SINCE THAT STORY AIRED, 40 PEOPLE REACHED OUT OVER THE WEEKEND TO THE RED CROSS REQUESTING INSTALLATIONS. WE HAVE A LINK ON WGAL.COM ABOUT HOW YOU CAN SCHEDULE A FREE SMOKE ALARM INSTALLATION WITH THE RED CROSS EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS IN LANCASTER COUNTY FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT ACCUSING THE COUNTY OF SHORTCHANGING THEM ON OVERTIME. FIVE CURRENT 911 EMPLOYEES SAY THEY ROUTINELY WORK MORE THAN 40 HOURS A WEEK, AND THE COUNTY DOES NOT PAY THEM PROPERLY FOR THAT EXTRA TIME. THE DISPATCHERS WANT BACK PAY AND FOR THE COUNTY TO CHANGE ITS POLICIES, WHICH THEY SAY DO NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL LAW. WE DID REACH OUT TO THE COUNTY, BUT IT SAYS IT DOES NOT COMMENT ON LAWSUITS. EVERYTHING TIM DID, EVERY SHIFT, HE WORKED, EVERY CALL HE ANSWERED WAS DONE WITH HIS FAMILY IN HIS HEART. STATE. TROOPERS, POLICE, FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY MOURN THE LOSS OF CORPORAL TIMOTHY O’CONNOR YESTERDAY. HE WAS KILLED DURING A TRAFFIC STOP IN CHESTER COUNTY EARLIER THIS MONTH. AND DURING THAT SERVICE IN DOWNINGTOWN, CORPORAL O’CONNOR WAS COMMENDED AS STATE TROOPER AND ALSO A DEVOTED FAMILY MAN. HIS WIDOW, CASEY, ALSO SPOKE AT THAT SERVICE. WE ARE DEVASTATED AT THE LOSS OF TIMOTHY, BUT WE MUST CARRY ON HIS LEGACY AND HIS GOOD WORK. DO NOT LET THE BAD OF THE WORLD TARNISH YOUR MISSION OF PROTECTING WITH INTEGRITY. CORPORAL O’CONNOR WAS KNOWN FOR HIS WORK WITH CAMP CADET. AND YOU SEE, STANDING THERE, THAT IS JOSHUA COOK, WHO WAS ONE OF THOSE CADETS. WE INTRODUCED YOU TO HIM LAST WEEK. HE DID STAND SALUTING THAT PROCESSION FOR THE ENTIRETY OF IT IN HONOR OF CORPORAL O’CONNOR. WHO CAN WE TALK TO TO HELP US WITH OUR GRIEVANCES ABOUT THIS? TENANTS IN LANCASTER COUNTY AT A MOBILE HOME PARK. THEY’RE MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD. LAST NIGHT. THE UNITED ZION RETIREMENT COMMUNITY PRESENTED PLANS TO THE WARWICK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO REPLACE WHAT’S KNOWN AS PLATEAU VILLAGE MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY. THE MOVE WOULD FORCE THE CURRENT TENANTS THERE OUT OF THAT OF THEIR HOMES BY JANUARY, BUT SOME TOLD NEWS EIGHT THAT THEY DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO GO. UNITED ZION CEO EMPHASIZED THAT IT’S NOT CHANGING ITS PLANS TO CLOSE PLATEAU VILLAGE. LAST NIGHT’S MEETING WITH THE TOWNSHIP WAS ABOUT. BUILDINGS AT UNITED ZION. WOULD LIKE TO BUILD IN PLACE OF THOSE MOBILE HOMES IN THE PARK. THEY WANT TO PUT COTTAGES UP. BUT SOME RESIDENTS SAY THEY FEEL IGNORED BY THE TOWNSHIP, WHO ARE WE TO GO TO? WHO ARE WE TO GO TO TO PROTECT US IN THE TOWNSHIP? YOUR CONDITIONAL. YOU’RE TAKING CARE OF THE CONDITION OF THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT. BUT I’M SAYING OUR COMMUNITY HERE HAS SOMEONE. WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE TO REPRESENT US IN THE TOWNSHIP. THE TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS DID NOT MAKE A DECISION LAST NIGHT ON THE APPLICATION FROM UNITED ZION. THE BOARD SAYS IT WILL VOTE IN THE NEXT 45 DAYS. A YORK COUNTY MAN IS NOW CONVICTED OF TRYING TO TRAFFIC AND RAPE A TEN YEAR OLD. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE IN PIKE COUNTY, WHICH IS IN THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE, SAYS JASON MILLER OF REDLINE, WAS ARRESTED IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR AGAIN. HE IS NOW CONVICTED, ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. MILLER TALKED WITH A WOMAN ABOUT WANTING TO HAVE SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A TEN YEAR OLD. INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY LEARNED THAT HE WAS WILLING TO TRAVEL TO PIKE COUNTY AND PAY $200. THEY SAY THEY ARRESTED HIM WHEN HE GOT THERE. A JURY CONVICTED MILLER OF ALL FIVE FELONY CHARGES HE FACED. HE IS SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED IN JUNE. NEW THIS MORNING, STATE REPRESENTATIVES FROM LANCASTER COUNTY ANNOUNCED WHERE STATE MONEY IS GOING TO HELP WITH PREVENTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY GOT $40,000 OF THIS MONEY. FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE GOT NEARLY $22,000. THE MONEY IS FROM THE. IT’S ON US P A AWARD. IT WILL GO TOWARD RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND PROVIDING RESOURCES TO SURVIVORS. HAPPENING TODAY, TURNPIKE EMPLOYEES ARE PUTTING TOGETHER PERSONAL CARE BOXES FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS. THIS IS ALL PART OF THEIR FOURTH ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S WORK TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THOSE BOXES HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE YWCA OF GREATER HARRISBURG, WHICH DOES COVER ADAMS, CUMBERLAND, FRANKLIN, LANCASTER, PERRY AND YORK COUNTIES. AND THEN THEY WILL BE PASSED ON TO SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS. EACH BOX CARRIES THE LABEL CALLED PACKED WITH LOVE BY SOMEONE WHO CARES. THIS YEAR’S GOAL WAS 250 BOXES, BUT AN ANONYMOUS DONOR HAS ALREADY GIVEN THE SUPPLIES NEEDED TO FILL ALL OF THOSE BOXES. SO THE TURNPIKE SAYS THAT GROUP WILL SURPASS ITS GOAL. VOLUNTEERS ARE GOING TO START PUTTING THOSE BOXES TOGETHER AROUND 1030 THIS MORNING. YOU’RE SEEING HERE FROM A PREVIOUS YEAR. AND IN OUR NEXT HALF HOUR NEWS EIGHT’S GABRIELLE THOMAS WILL BE LIVE WITH SOME OF T
Sesame Workshop lawsuit could threaten future of Sesame Place in Pennsylvania
Updated: 6:37 AM EDT Mar 19, 2026
A lawsuit against SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment could threaten the future of Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.Sesame Workshop sued SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and United Parks & Resorts, alleging they breached a licensing agreement governing the use of the Sesame Street brand at theme parks. Sesame Workshop claimed that SeaWorld:Failed to pay millions in royalties and other required fees Withheld royalty reports needed to calculate paymentsFailed to pay amounts tied to canceled or closed attractionsUsed Sesame Workshop’s intellectual property in marketing without approvalAbruptly closed Sesame Place San Diego and shifted it to a seasonal schedule without notice to Sesame WorkshopDamaged the Sesame Street brand through what Sesame calls retaliatory conductHow the dispute escalatedThe lawsuit said tensions grew after an earlier royalty dispute involving Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.According to the complaint, SeaWorld previously disputed royalty obligations tied to the Pennsylvania park, but an arbitrator ruled in Sesame Workshop’s favor in 2023. The lawsuit said a federal court later confirmed that award and ordered payment with interest.Sesame Workshop cited the earlier Langhorne dispute as part of a broader pattern of nonpayment and conflict. How this affects Sesame Place in PA The lawsuit appears to affect Sesame Place in Langhorne mainly in two ways:It is part of the history of the dispute. The complaint points to the Langhorne royalty fight as an example of the companies’ earlier disagreement over financial obligations.The park’s long-term branding relationship could be affected. Sesame Workshop is asking the court to allow it to terminate the licensing agreement. If that happens, it could eventually affect how the Sesame Street brand is used at parks, including the Pennsylvania location. The complaint does not say that Sesame Place in Pennsylvania is closing. The more immediate closure allegation in the lawsuit involves Sesame Place San Diego. More park-related allegationsSesame Workshop also alleges SeaWorld:Backed out of plans for a third standalone Sesame Place parkShut down Sesame Street Bay of Play in San AntonioClosed Sesame Place San Diego on short notice in September 2025Sent unapproved marketing materials using Sesame branding and characters CLAIMS | Sesame Workshop brings claims for breach of contract, unfair competition under New York law and a declaratory judgment that Sesame Workshop did not breach the agreement. What Sesame Workshop wantsSesame Workshop is asking the court for:A ruling that SeaWorld breached the agreementA ruling that Sesame Workshop did not breach the agreementPermission to terminate the agreementDamages, including unpaid sums, royalties, and termination feesPunitive damages under unfair competition lawInterest, attorneys’ fees, and other reliefSTATUS | The complaint states Sesame Workshop notified SeaWorld of the alleged breaches in November 2025, held discussions in January 2026, and went to mediation on March 12, 2026, but the dispute was not resolved. Stay with WGAL for updates as we learn more. See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.
LANGHORNE, Pa. —
A lawsuit against SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment could threaten the future of Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.
Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.
Sesame Workshop sued SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and United Parks & Resorts, alleging they breached a licensing agreement governing the use of the Sesame Street brand at theme parks.
Sesame Workshop claimed that SeaWorld:
Failed to pay millions in royalties and other required fees Withheld royalty reports needed to calculate paymentsFailed to pay amounts tied to canceled or closed attractionsUsed Sesame Workshop’s intellectual property in marketing without approvalAbruptly closed Sesame Place San Diego and shifted it to a seasonal schedule without notice to Sesame WorkshopDamaged the Sesame Street brand through what Sesame calls retaliatory conductHow the dispute escalated
The lawsuit said tensions grew after an earlier royalty dispute involving Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.
According to the complaint, SeaWorld previously disputed royalty obligations tied to the Pennsylvania park, but an arbitrator ruled in Sesame Workshop’s favor in 2023. The lawsuit said a federal court later confirmed that award and ordered payment with interest.
Sesame Workshop cited the earlier Langhorne dispute as part of a broader pattern of nonpayment and conflict.
The Washington Post
Elmo along the parade route at Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA.
How this affects Sesame Place in PA
The lawsuit appears to affect Sesame Place in Langhorne mainly in two ways:
It is part of the history of the dispute. The complaint points to the Langhorne royalty fight as an example of the companies’ earlier disagreement over financial obligations.The park’s long-term branding relationship could be affected. Sesame Workshop is asking the court to allow it to terminate the licensing agreement. If that happens, it could eventually affect how the Sesame Street brand is used at parks, including the Pennsylvania location.
The complaint does not say that Sesame Place in Pennsylvania is closing. The more immediate closure allegation in the lawsuit involves Sesame Place San Diego.
helen89
Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania
More park-related allegations
Sesame Workshop also alleges SeaWorld:
Backed out of plans for a third standalone Sesame Place parkShut down Sesame Street Bay of Play in San AntonioClosed Sesame Place San Diego on short notice in September 2025Sent unapproved marketing materials using Sesame branding and characters
CLAIMS | Sesame Workshop brings claims for breach of contract, unfair competition under New York law and a declaratory judgment that Sesame Workshop did not breach the agreement.
What Sesame Workshop wants
Sesame Workshop is asking the court for:
A ruling that SeaWorld breached the agreementA ruling that Sesame Workshop did not breach the agreementPermission to terminate the agreementDamages, including unpaid sums, royalties, and termination feesPunitive damages under unfair competition lawInterest, attorneys’ fees, and other relief
STATUS | The complaint states Sesame Workshop notified SeaWorld of the alleged breaches in November 2025, held discussions in January 2026, and went to mediation on March 12, 2026, but the dispute was not resolved.
Stay with WGAL for updates as we learn more.
See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at https://www.wgal.com/upload.