Colombia. The private television channels, Caracol and RCN, as well as the Colombian Union of Advertising Companies (Ucep) and the measurement firm Ibope Colombia, were fined by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) for restrictive practices against free competition.
According to the SIC, the channels and the Ucep contracted a television audience study with Ibope, which was restricted to competition, since third parties interested in having the studies carried out had to obtain prior authorization from the channels and the Ucep.
Similarly, for a period of time of eight months, the international channels did not have access to the information of the study that is used to analyze the purchase and sale of advertising pattern, just as, according to the SIC, the channels and the Ucep "arbitrated the costs of the studies, through the imposition and increase of tariffs."
The SIC imposed fines on each of the channels worth about US$600,000, on Ucep for about US$450,000 and on Ibope for a similar value. Sanctioned companies now have the right to an appeal for replacement.
