BBC, ITV, Hartswood Films, and Sister are to be investigated by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over possible breaches of antitrust laws when engaging freelance crew members.
Hat Trick Productions, Red Planet Pictures, and Tiger Aspect Productions will also be probed by the CMA, which said it had “reasonable grounds to suspect one or more breaches of competition law.”
The authority was not specific about what it suspects and why it had narrowed its investigation down to seven companies, though it appears that the production of scripted content is an area of interest given the producers named specialize in drama or comedy.
A similar investigation is underway in sport production, with the BBC, BT, IMG, ITV, Sky, and Sunset & Vine Productions under the microscope.
The CMA said it had launched its latest investigation under section 25 of the Competition Act, which seeks to prevent the “prevention, restriction or distortion of competition” in Britain. The CMA said “no assumption should be made at this stage” that laws have been broken.
Information will be gathered between now and March 2024, at the end of which the CMA will decide whether to issue a “statement of objections.” It has the ability to fine organizations up to 10% of their global revenue should it conclude there has been wrongdoing.
ITV said: “ITV confirms that together with other organisations it has received a case initiation notice from the CMA. ITV is committed to complying with competition law and to cooperating with the CMA’s inquiries. ITV does not propose to comment further at this stage.”
The BBC, Hartswood, Sister, Hat Trick Productions, Red Planet Pictures, and Tiger Aspect Productions have been contacted for comment.
