Suspected anti-competitive behaviour relating to freelance labour in the production and broadcasting of sports content
The CMA is 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.
Administrative timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| July 2024 (further update by the end of January 2025) | Decision to close the investigation of Sunset & Vine Productions Limited on administrative priority grounds. Investigation continuing against five other parties (see Case information below). |
| March 2024 to June 2024 | Ongoing assessment of information gathered in respect of the purchase of freelance services supporting the production and broadcasting of sports content in the UK |
| March 2024 | Investigation narrowed to exclude suspected breaches of competition law in relation to the employment of staff supporting the production and broadcasting of sports content in the UK, (see February 2023 entry below) |
| November 2023 to March 2024 | Further investigatory steps and assessment of evidence |
| April 2023 to October 2023 | Further information gathering and review and analysis of information gathered |
| April 2023 | Formal notice of investigation issued to two further case parties: the British Broadcasting Corporation and Sunset & Vine Productions Limited |
| January 2023 to April 2023 | Further review and analysis of information gathered |
| February 2023 | Investigation extended to include suspected breaches of competition law in relation to the employment of staff supporting the production and broadcasting of sports content in the UK |
| July 2022 to January 2023 | Initial investigation: information gathering |
| 12 July 2022 | Investigation opened in relation to the purchase of freelance services. Formal notice of investigation issued to four case parties: BT Group PLC, IMG Media Limited (including Premier League Productions), ITV PLC and Sky UK Limited |
Case information
12 July 2022: the CMA launched an investigation under section 25 of the Competition Act 1998 (‘CA98’) into suspected infringements of the Chapter I prohibition of the CA98 by undertakings involved in the production and broadcasting of sports content.
The investigation concerns the activities of these undertakings in relation to the purchase of freelance services which support the production and broadcasting of sports content in the UK.
The CMA is currently investigating suspected breaches of competition law by the following:
- the British Broadcasting Corporation
- BT Group PLC
- IMG Media Limited (including Premier League Productions)
- ITV PLC
- Sky UK 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.
Personal data
The CMA may collect, use and share personal data for its investigations, including investigations under the CA98. 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
Assistant Project Director
Eva Chong, eva.chong@cma.gov.uk
Rhiannon Davies, rhiannon.davies@cma.gov.uk
Jeremy Bohl, jeremy.bohl@cma.gov.uk
Project Director
Daniel Rawling daniel.rawling@cma.gov.uk
Senior Responsible Officer
Lucília Falsarella Pereira, Lucilia.Falsarella-Pereira@cma.gov.uk
Media contact
Any media enquiries should be directed to a member of our Press Office: press@cma.gov.uk
Information about suspected anti-competitive activity can be reported to the CMA.
Updates to this page
Last updated 31 July 2024 + show all updates
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Administrative timetable and Case information updated.
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Update to administrative timetable
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Administrative timetable updated
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Administrative timetable and case information updated.
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First published.