In the News
Commission opens investigation into cross border provision of pay TV services
The European Commission has opened proceedings to examine certain provisions in licensing agreements between several major US film studios (Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures) and the largest European pay-TV broadcasters such as BSkyB of the UK, Canal Plus of France, Sky Italia of Italy, Sky Deutschland of Germany and DTS of Spain. The Commission will in particular investigate whether these provisions prevent broadcasters from providing their services across borders, for example by refusing potential subscribers from other Member States or blocking cross-border access to their services. Click here.
UK
Competition Commission
- Following a two year investigation into the cement market in Great Britain, the CC has produced its final report, which details how the CC plans to open the way for a fifth cement producer in Great Britain in order to increase competition in the market. Click here.
- Following a CAT judgment in the Eurotunnel/SeaFrance merger in which the CAT remitted back to the CC the jurisdictional question of whether Groupe Eurotunnel/ Société Coopérative de Production SeaFrance SA (SCOP) acquired an "enterprise" or merely "assets", the CC has set out in an administrative timetable the way in which it aims to conduct the remittal process. Click here.
OFT
- The OFT has accepted hold separate undertakings from IRESS Limited and IRESS UK Holdings Limited in respect of the completed acquisition by IRESS UK Holdings Limited of Avelo FS Holdings Limited. Click here.
- The OFT has accepted hold separate undertakings from Stagecoach Bus Holdings Limited in respect of the completed acquisition by Stagecoach Bus Holdings Limited of Go West Travel limited. Click here.
Other
- The Competition & Markets Authority has published the final versions of seven guidance documents, explaining certain of its powers and procedures, in particular in relation to mergers and market investigations. Drafts of the guidance documents were consulted on by the CMA in the second half of last year. Final versions of the remaining guidance documents will be published in March. Click here.
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