Share

MTV gets nod to pay R17.3m in price-fixing settlement

The Competition Tribunal has approved an MTV Networks Africa (MTV) settlement agreement for a package of remedies amounting to R17.3m for price fixing and fixing of trading conditions.  

The agreemeent between the MTV and the Competition Commission relates to a media collusion case that involves over 20 media companies.

"The Commission is hopeful that other media companies, implicated in the matter, will consider settling with the Commission while the process still allows them to do so," it said in a statement on Sunday.

MTV is the sixth media company that agreed to settle on charges relating to price fixing and the fixing of trading conditions.

The case stretches back to a November 2011 investigation which found that, through the Media Credit Co-Ordinators (MCC), various media companies agreed to offer similar discounts and payment terms to advertising agencies that place advertisements with MCC members.

"The Commission found that the practices restricted competition among the competing companies, as they did not independently determine the discounts and thereby fixed the price and trading terms in contravention of the Competition Act," it explained.

In addition to paying penalties, the companies that have settled have also agreed to various remedies including paying contributions to the Economic Development Fund and providing bonus advertising space to qualifying small agencies.

Media24 agreed to pay an administrative penalty amounting to R13.83m, Provantage Media agreed to pay R1m, Caxton & CTP Publishers and Printers Ltd agreed to pay an amount of R5.8m, Independent Media (Pty) Ltd agreed to pay R2m and DStv Media Sales (Pty) Ltd agreed to pay R22m.

* Fin24 is part of Media24.

* Sign up to Fin24's top news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO FIN24 NEWSLETTER

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.0%
Rand - Pound
23.90
-0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.41
+0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.32
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.0%
Platinum
908.05
+1.2%
Palladium
1,014.94
+1.3%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders