Top UK sports broadcasters struck by £4m fine

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined four of the UK’s biggest sports broadcasters more than £4m for unlawfully sharing information on freelance pay rates.

The news sees BBC, BT, IMG, and ITV fined a total of £4.24m after an investigation found they had shared confidential information on freelance pay, including rates for camera operators and sound technicians.

Sky also admitted involvement but avoided a fine after reporting the issue to the regulator before the investigation began.

Freelancers have played a key role in sports broadcasting, working on live match and event productions for all five companies. The CMA identified 15 instances where at least two firms exchanged information on pay, including day rates and rate increases, to align payments and avoid competition.

BT and IMG have each been fined £1.7m, while the BBC must pay £424,000 and ITV £340,000.

All four organisations have stated that they co-operated with the investigation. The BBC acknowledged its involvement in three of the 15 cases and said it remains committed to working with freelancers. BT, ITV, and IMG have each confirmed they have strengthened internal compliance measures.

Juliette Enser, the CMA’s executive director for competition enforcement, has stated that ‘production teams play a crucial role in televised sports and should receive fair pay.’ She emphasised that ‘companies must set rates independently to ensure competitive wages.’

The CMA has also been investigating potential anti-competitive practices in non-sports television production, involving the BBC, ITV, and several independent production companies. However, it has not yet reached a conclusion in that case.