Anti-competitive behaviour relating to freelance labour in the production and broadcasting of sports content
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Court | Competition and Markets Authority (UK) |
| Case Outcome | CA98 - infringement Chapter I |
| Date | 13 July 2022 |
| Decision Date | 17 April 2025 |
| Published date | 13 July 2022 |
| Subject Matter | CA98 and civil cartels |
OFFICIAL SENSITIVE
Decision of the Competition
and Markets Authority
Anti-competitive behaviour relating to the
purchase of freelance services supporting the
production and broadcasting of sports content
Case 51156
21 March 2025
1
© Crown copyright 2025
You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or
medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ or write to the Information
Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email:
psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk
Confidential information in the original version of this Decision has been redacted from the
published version on the public register. Redacted confidential information in the text of the
published version of the Decision is denoted by [].
The names of individuals mentioned in the description of the infringements in the original
version of this Decision have been removed from the published version on the public
register. Names have been replaced by a general descriptor of the individual's role.
2
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE CMA’S INVESTIGATION ........... 4
A. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 4
B. Background to the CMA’s investigation ................................................................... 5
2. INDUSTRY BACKGROUND AND RELEVANT MARKETS ..................................... 8
A. Industry background ................................................................................................ 8
B. Relevant markets .................................................................................................... 9
B.I Introduction ............................................................................................................. 9
B.II Whether any of the relevant markets may be wider than each Relevant Service .. 10
B.III Geographic scope of the relevant markets ............................................................ 13
B.IV Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 13
3. THE LAW ................................................................................................................ 14
A. Chapter I prohibition .............................................................................................. 14
B. Legal principles for establishing the Chapter I prohibition ..................................... 14
B.I Undertakings ......................................................................................................... 14
B.II Coordination between undertakings ...................................................................... 14
4. CONDUCT AND LEGAL ASSESSMENT ............................................................... 22
A. Standard of proof and evidence ............................................................................ 22
B. Undertakings ......................................................................................................... 22
C. Conduct giving rise to the Infringements ............................................................... 23
C.I Infringement 1, involving ITV and Sky (March 2014) ............................................. 24
C.II Infringement 2, involving BT and ITV (August 2014) ............................................. 27
C.III Infringement 3, involving ITV and Sky (Autumn 2015) .......................................... 28
C.IV Infringement 4, involving IMG and Sky (April 2016) .............................................. 31
C.V Infringement 5, involving ITV and Sky (April 2016 – January 2017) ...................... 33
C.VI Infringement 6, involving BBC and Sky (July-November 2016) ............................. 37
C.VII Infringement 7, involving BT and Sky (Spring 2018) ............................................. 39
C.VIII Infringement 8, involving ITV and Sky (May 2018) ................................................ 43
C.IX Infringement 9, involving IMG and Sky (July 2019) ............................................... 45
C.X Infringement 10, involving BT and IMG (December 2020) .................................... 46
C.XI Infringement 11, involving BT and Sky (Winter 2020/2021) .................................. 49
C.XII Infringement 12, involving IMG and Sky (January 2021) ....................................... 51
C.XIII Infringement 13, involving BT and IMG (July 2021) .............................................. 54
C.XIV Infringement 14, involving BBC and BT (September 2021) ................................... 59
C.XV Infringement 15, involving BBC and IMG (October 2021) ..................................... 62
D. Effect on trade within the UK ................................................................................. 63
E. Appreciable effect on competition ......................................................................... 64
F. Exclusion and exemption ...................................................................................... 64
5. ATTRIBUTION OF LIABILITY ................................................................................ 65
A. Identification of appropriate legal entity ................................................................. 65
B. Direct personal liability .......................................................................................... 65
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