BBC, ITV & UK scripted firms face probe over possible breach of freelance competition laws

Beyond Paradise

UK broadcasters the BBC and ITV, along with several local scripted production companies, are under investigation by the government’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) due to possible breaches of anti-trust rules regarding freelance contracts.

Derry Girls producer Hat Trick, Wolf’s Hartswood Films, This Is Going To Hurt’s Sister, Beyond Paradise firm Red Planet Pictures and Peaky Blinders prodco Tiger Aspect are also to be probed.

The CMA said that it has “reasonable grounds” to suspect a breach of competition law, but has not yet reached a verdict as to whether there has been an infringement – nor did it specify exactly what it suspects these companies may have done.

The regulator is expected to make a decision by March 2024, following its investigation. The CMA has he authority to fine companies up to 10% of their global revenue if it decies that laws were broken.

“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,” said the CMA in a statement.
A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC notes the Competition and Markets Authority’s announcement and will fully cooperate with the CMA’s inquiries.”

ITV, meanwhile said: “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.”