The complaint from ATV alleged that certain clauses in TVB’s contracts and informal practices with its talents prevented, distorted and substantially restricted competition. The full investigation, which launched in August 2010, found that TVB engaged in anti-competition practices involving unreasonable contract terms and not allowing the talents to speak in Cantonese for other station’s shows, among others.
According to the South China Morning Post, the maximum penalty allowed by law for the relevant violations is HK$1 million, but given that the station made remedies including cancelling certain contracts, the authority decided on the final fine of HK$900,000.
ATV also complained that TVB had allegedly implemented a policy whereby TVB offered higher discount rates to advertisers which undertook not to place advertisements with ATV, but the Authority has not found evidence to substantiate this.
