Mar 21, 2025 01:43 PM IST
BRITAIN-CMA-BROADCASTING:UK antitrust watchdog fines sports activities broadcasters $5.2 million over freelance pay
-Britain’s competitors regulator fined 4 sports activities broadcast and manufacturing corporations about 4 million kilos on Friday for sharing delicate details about charges for freelance digital camera operators and sound technicians.
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The Competitors and Markets Authority stated 5 corporations – Sky, BT, IMG, ITV and the BBC – admitted “to breaking the law” after “colluding” on pay charges for freelancers.
BT, IMG, ITV and the BBC got a reduction on penalties since they assisted the regulator within the case, whereas Sky was exempted as a result of it notified the regulator earlier than it started its investigation, the regulator stated.
BT, and IMG didn’t instantly reply to Reuters’ requests for remark, whereas ITV declined to remark.
The regulator stated it had discovered 15 situations the place a pair of corporations unlawfully shared delicate details about pay with one another, together with on day charges and pay rises.
“Companies should set rates independently of each other so pay is competitive – not doing so could leave workers out of pocket,” Juliette Enser, govt director for competitors enforcement on the CMA, stated in a press release.
A spokesperson for Sky, which is owned by Comcast, stated that it had taken steps to strengthen its inner insurance policies and procedures to make sure compliance with competitors legislation guidelines. A BBC spokesperson stated the corporate had co-operated with the CMA all through its probe and extremely valued the freelancers it really works with.
The CMA started its investigation in 2022 into how sports activities broadcasters shared delicate details about freelancers’ pay. Numerous events have been beneath its radar, with some being added and eliminated by way of the assessment.
The watchdog additionally stated it was closing a separate probe regarding non-sports TV manufacturing and broadcasting.
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