Competition Authority fines 11 media agencies EUR 3.2 mln; McCann-Erickson takes worst hit

Romania’s Competition Authority has fined 11 companies in the Romanian media industry a total EUR 3.2 million for arrangements targeting to eliminate competing agencies on the media communication services market.

The authority fined the following companies:
– B.V. McCann-Erickson S.R.L: RON 3,218,755 (EUR 717,719);
– Initiative Media SA: RON 2,498,443 (EUR 557,104);
– Zenith media Communications S.R.L.: RON 2,146,199 (EUR 478,560);
– Starcom Mediavest Group S.R.L.: RON 1,849,843 (EUR 412,479);
– Mediacom Romania S.R.L.: RON 1,328,727 (EUR 296,280);
– Mediaedgecia Romania S.R.L.: RON 967,226 (EUR 215,672);
– Mindshare Media S.R.L.: RON 949,672 (EUR 211,758);
– Opti Media S.R.L.: RON 599,636 (EUR 133,707);
– United Media Services S.R.L.: RON 498,748 (EUR 111,211);
– Brand Programming Network S.A.: RON 280,296 (EUR 62,500);
– Groupm Media Operations S.R.L.: RON 230,011 (EUR 51,288).

At the moment, the Competition Authority is collaborating with companies in the field and with the National Union of Advertising Angecies to elaborate a set of principles to ensure transparency and professionalism on the media market.