UK Raided Top Broadcasters In Sports Antitrust Probe

The Competition and Markets Authority said in a statement on Wednesday it had opened an investigation as it “has reasonable grounds to suspect one or more breaches of competition law” by firms also including Sky UK and BT Group and ITV.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it has ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect that BT, ITV, Sky and IMG Media – which includes Premier League Productions – might have broken competition rules.

‘The investigation relates to the purchase by such companies of freelance services which support the production and broadcasting of sports content in the UK,’ the CMA said.

‘At this stage the UK’s CMA believes it has reasonable grounds to suspect one or more breaches of competition law.’

It is investigating the broadcasters under Section 25 of the Competition Act, which allows the CMA to look into potential cartels.

The authority can launch a probe if it believes there is now or was at one point an agreement between companies.

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