Record fine from the Competition Authority! Investigation launched into casting agencies

Competition Authority President Birol Küle announced that a total of 7.7 billion TL in administrative fines were imposed on companies that violated the Competition Law in 2023. Emphasizing that their fight to ensure fair competition will continue, Küle stated that investigations are being conducted across a wide spectrum in the food sector, from red meat to raw milk.

INVESTIGATION INTO CASTING AGENCIES

Stating that casting agencies are among the four different investigations the Competition Authority is conducting regarding the media and entertainment sector, Küle said that this investigation focuses on competition violations in the sector.

According to the report by Nagihan Kalsın from Dünya newspaper, Küle listed the four separate ongoing investigations in the media sector as follows:

Cinema screening and distribution

Cinema and TV series production, international distribution, and YouTube broadcasts

Subscription-based video-on-demand platforms

Casting direction and casting agencies/management services

Within the scope of these investigations, while casting agencies and management companies are being scrutinized, it is alleged that serious competition violations were detected in the investigation conducted into 21 enterprises. Küle said there are allegations that some agencies determined commission rates, imposed certain sales conditions, and attempted to exclude some producers from the market by boycotting them.

Furthermore, it is stated that some firms that operate both casting direction and agency businesses have created vertically integrated structures in the sector, and this situation is causing anti-competitive concerns. Küle announced that the Competition Authority is conducting a comprehensive study and that a wide range of information and documents have been requested from stakeholders.