BBC, ITV, Hartswood Motion pictures, and Sister are to be investigated through the United Kingdom’s Festival and Markets Authority (CMA) over imaginable breaches of antitrust regulations when attractive freelance staff individuals.

Hat Trick Productions, Pink Planet Footage, and Tiger Side Productions may also be probed through the CMA, which stated it had “affordable grounds to suspect a number of breaches of festival legislation.”

The authority was once now not particular about what it suspects and why it had narrowed its investigation all the way down to seven corporations, even though it seems that that the manufacturing of scripted content material is a space of hobby given the manufacturers named focus on drama or comedy.

A identical investigation is underway in recreation manufacturing, with the BBC, BT, IMG, ITV, Sky, and Sundown & Vine Productions beneath the microscope.

The CMA stated it had introduced its newest investigation beneath segment 25 of the Festival Act, which seeks to forestall the “prevention, restriction or distortion of festival” in Britain. The CMA stated “no assumption will have to be made at this level” that regulations were damaged.

Knowledge shall be accrued between now and March 2024, on the finish of which the CMA will come to a decision whether or not to factor a “commentary of objections.” It has the facility to fantastic organizations as much as 10% in their international earnings will have to it conclude there was wrongdoing.

ITV stated: “ITV confirms that along with different organisations it has gained a case initiation realize from the CMA. ITV is dedicated to complying with festival legislation and to cooperating with the CMA’s inquiries. ITV does now not suggest to remark additional at this level.”

The BBC, Hartswood, Sister, Hat Trick Productions, Pink Planet Footage, and Tiger Side Productions were contacted for remark.