Ofcom Update Competition Enforcement Guidance: Key Takeaways For Media Organisations

Ofcom are revising the guidance on their enforcement of the prohibition on anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominance under the Competition Act 1998 (CA98), which they enforce concurrently with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the communications sector.

The updates are largely procedural, reflecting post-Brexit developments, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), and how competition enforcement has evolved over the past decade. Ofcom have historically brought relatively few CA98 cases. However, the updates indicate that Ofcom intend to be more visible and active in this area going forward. In this briefing, we outline the key themes and what they mean for media businesses in the UK.