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Hong Kong: Public broadcaster slapped with $100k fine

By  |  September 19, 2013

Free-to-air broadcaster Television Broadcasts was issued a fine of more than $100,000 by Hong Kong’s communications regulatory Thursday for anticompetitive practices, say reports.

According to the Communications Authority, the public broadcaster made “harsh and unreasonable” contracts with musicians, as well as other practices, that were deemed anticompetitive. The fines are a result of a formal probe into TVB following a complaint by competitor Asia Television, lodged in December 2009.

TVB is Hong Kong’s largest free-to-air broadcaster.

According to the watchdog, the company was found to have also practiced anticompetitive policies in contracts inked with television series and one-show artists.

Reports say fines were reduced by the regulator following TVB’s willingness to cancel some anticompetitive contracts.

Full Content: South China Morning Post

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