Author Aditya Kalra
The new Delhi (Reuters) -The anthimonopolistic body of the Indian found that the World Advertisement Agencies violated the law by coordinating commissions, and in March. Based on the commissions of advertisers and urged Sweatdog raids on advertising and media companies in March, based on a document that contains new research in the media sector.
The Indian competition commission organized unexpected raids in local ads, WPP, Interpublc, Publicis and Dentsu offices and Indian broadcasters and advertising companies Association.
February 7th The CCI document and Reuters are seen on Friday show new suspicions that three separate cartels operated over three different industrial groups: Indian advertisers’ Society (ISA), Indian Advertising Agency Association (AAAI) and Indian broadcasting and digital fund (IBDF).
Prior to the reports in the CCI document, the raid was reviewed by evidence that showed that the alleged misconduct had been widespread since 2023, and the advertising agency exchanged commercially not disclosed information about WhatsApp groups and agreed to comply with pre -specified commission structures.
“AAAI and its members violate” competition laws, CCI noted in an initial review, stating a study that led to March raids, the document states.
AAAI also often organized virtual members of the members to coordinate with prices and answers to share with clients and discuss “retaliation” against guidelines that do not follow the guidelines, the document states.
The group “also determined the tax formula if the advertisers were subject to a tax,” CCI said.
Group – AAAI, representing Groupm, Dentsu and Publicis, ISA, which counts dozens of Indian and foreign companies as members, and the IBDF broadcasters group – did not respond to Reuters requests.
CCI also did not respond to the request to comment.
CCI does not publicly disclose any information on price determination. March Reuters reported that allegations are related to the agreement between the media purchase agencies and broadcasters, and the case was activated after Dentsu revealed a disclosure under the federal program of the informant type.
The raids threw a shadow on a rapidly growing Indian media and broadcast sector, which holds the Reliance-Disney and Sony as the best players and can change how the ads cost and sell in the country.
By detailing the allegations, the CCI document states that advertisers “have set the buyer’s cartel” and broadcasters who provide the channels separately are engaged in “collective action to give customers discounts.