On 11 October 2023, the UK's Competition and Markets
Regulator (the CMA) opened its second investigation into alleged
anti-competitive practices between employers.
The investigations are part of a wider trend that has
increasingly seen global competition regulators cracking down on
wage fixing and other competition issues in labour markets.
The most recent investigation will examine the treatment of
freelancers and employees in the broadcasting industry. A number of
production companies are under investigation, including Hat Trick
Productions, ITV and Red Planet Pictures. It builds on the first investigation into labour markets,
opened in July 2022, which is focussing exclusively on the sports
broadcasting industry.
