Update: Former One World Sports Freelancers Remain Unpaid

Hundreds of thousands of dollars are owed to production folks who worked on OWS shows in 2016

One World Sports has yet to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars owed to freelancers and production-services companies for their work relating to the production of games in fourth quarter 2016, according to multiple freelancers who have reached out to SVG. Although certain distribution assets of One World Sports were acquired by Eleven Sports last month, this has no impact on the outstanding debt owed by OWS to freelancers.

OWS still owes producers, directors, graphics producers, engineers, on-air talent, and others for work on New York Cosmos and other NASL soccer games, Ivy League football games, and other productions in 2016. According to a former OWS employee, the company has paid all full-time staffers for owed wages, but freelancers have yet to be compensated.

Although One World Sports furloughed the bulk of its staff and essentially ceased operations late last year, neither OWS nor its parent company One Media has declared bankruptcy at this time. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against OWS regarding unpaid wages, including one by Linacre Media, which is owed more than $170,000 for producing eight Ivy League football games last fall (as part of a 10-game package, two of which were produced by Harvard Athletics’ video team).

According to one freelancer, compensation for produced shows was delayed on multiple occasions in September and October. OWS executives had informed the freelancer that a sale of the company would be coming in November, providing the necessary funds for payment. However, when the deal fell through, it became apparent that already-delayed payments from the broadcaster would not be forthcoming.

According to a source, OWS also owes outstanding fees to multiple rights partners, including IMG and the Ivy League.

Calls, texts, and e-mails from SVG to OWS CEO Sandy Brown requesting comment on the situation have yet to be returned.