Suspected anti-competitive behaviour relating to freelance and employed labour in the production, creation and/or broadcasting of television content, excluding sport

The CMA is investigating suspected breaches of competition law in relation to the purchase of freelance services and the employment of staff supporting the production, creation and/or broadcasting of television content in the UK, excluding sport content.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
12 October 2023
Last updated
22 November 2024 — See all updates
Case type:
CA98 and civil cartels
Case state:
Open
Market sector:
Communications
Opened:
11 October 2023

Administrative timetable

Date Action
November 2024 to March 2025 Ongoing assessment of evidence and information (further update by end of March 2025)
April 2024 to October 2024 Further investigatory steps and assessment of evidence
October 2023 to March 2024 Initial investigation: information gathering
11 October 2023 Investigation opened

Case information

On 11 October 2023, the CMA launched an investigation under section 25 of the Competition Act 1998 (‘CA98’) into a suspected infringement or infringements of the Chapter I prohibition of the CA98 by a number of undertakings involved in the production, creation and/or broadcasting of television content.

The investigation concerns the activities of these undertakings in relation to the purchase of services from freelance providers, and the employment of staff, who support the production, creation and/or broadcasting of television content in the UK, excluding sport content.

The CMA is investigating suspected breaches of competition law by at least the following undertakings: the British Broadcasting Corporation, Hartswood Films Limited, Hat Trick Productions Limited, ITV PLC, Red Planet Pictures Limited, Sister Pictures Limited and Tiger Aspect Productions Limited.

At this stage the CMA believes it has reasonable grounds to suspect one or more breaches of competition law. The CMA has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections to any party or parties. Not all cases result in the CMA issuing a statement of objections and no assumption should be made at this stage that the CA98 has been infringed.

The CMA is separately investigating suspected breaches of competition law in relation to the purchase of freelance services supporting the production and broadcasting of sports content in the UK. Please see the case page for further details.

Personal data

The CMA may collect, use and share personal data for its investigations, including investigations under the Competition Act 1998. This includes processing personal data for the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.

For more information about how the CMA handles personal information, please see the CMA’s Personal Information Charter.

Contacts

Media contact

Any media enquiries should be directed to a member of our Press Office: [email protected].

Information about suspected anti-competitive activity can be reported to the CMA.

Updates to this page

Published 12 October 2023
Last updated 22 November 2024 + show all updates

  1. Administrative timetable updated.

  2. Administrative timetable updated

  3. First published.

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