The BBC, ITV, BT, and IMG have been fined a total of £4.2 million after admitting to colluding on pay rates for freelance sports broadcasting staff, according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The CMA’s investigation found that the four companies shared confidential information to coordinate payments for freelance workers, including camera operators and sound technicians, thereby undermining fair competition in the labour market.
Sky Avoids Fine After Self-Reporting
Sky was also implicated in the discussions but escaped financial penalties after voluntarily reporting its involvement before the CMA launched its investigation in 2022.
The regulator revealed that the companies frequently exchanged details about freelancer rates and agreed not to compete on pricing. In one case, a business stated it had “no intention of getting into a bidding war” and instead aimed to “benchmark the rates” with a competitor. Another company mentioned wanting to “present a united front” on pay.
The CMA identified Sky as the most frequent participant, involved in 10 separate infringements. BT and IMG each broke competition rules six times, resulting in fines of £1.7 million each. ITV was fined £340,000 for five breaches, while the BBC received a £420,000 fine for three violations.
All four broadcasters admitted liability and settled the case, leading to reduced penalties.
CMA Condemns Unfair Pay Practices
Juliette Enser, executive director of competition enforcement at the CMA, condemned the actions of the companies, emphasizing the negative impact on freelance workers.
“Millions watch sports on TV each day, with production teams working hard to make that possible – and it’s only right they’re paid fairly,” Enser stated. “Companies should set pay rates independently to keep the market competitive. Not doing so can leave workers out of pocket.”
Broadcasters Respond to the Ruling
Each of the fined organisations issued statements in response to the CMA’s findings.
The BBC acknowledged its role in the breaches and stated that it had fully cooperated with the investigation. “We highly value the freelancers we work with and will continue to invest in and develop talent,” a BBC spokesperson said.
ITV assured that it had strengthened compliance measures across its operations, declaring its “full commitment to competition law.”
IMG confirmed that it had taken all necessary steps to address past compliance issues, while BT stated that it had introduced additional safeguards to ensure adherence to competition law across the organisation.
The fines mark a significant move by the CMA to crack down on anti-competitive practices in the broadcasting industry, ensuring a fair market for freelance workers in sports production.
