The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that it has launched an investigation into BT Group PLC, ITV PLC, Sky and IMG Media regarding potential pay fixing for freelance workers on the channels’ sports broadcasts. If wrongdoing is uncovered, the CMA has the scope to fine companies as much as 10 per cent of turnover.
In a statement, the CMA said the investigation would look at the purchase “of freelance services which support the production and broadcasting of sports content in the UK”, with the authority commenting that it had “reasonable grounds” to suspect that competition law had been breached on at least one occasion.
According to reports, the investigation (carried out under Section 25 of the Competition Act) will probe the potential use of cartel actions to set pay for skilled freelancers working on sports broadcasts, with self-employed workers including sound engineers and camera operators often working for different broadcasters depending on which is showing a match.
The CMA said on Wednesday: “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.”
Responding to the investigation, Sky said it was “co-operating fully with the CMA”. BT said: “It is clear that CMA’s investigation is focused very specifically on the purchase of freelance services and not any other aspects of the BT Sport or wider BT Group business.”
ITV, meanwhile, said it was “committed to complying with competition law and is cooperating with the CMA’s inquiries. ITV does not propose to comment on this investigation further at this stage.”
