Switzerland: the Competition Authority imposes €65m fine on Swisscom (abuse of dominance)

The Swiss Competition Authority (COMCO) has sanctioned the telecommunications group Swisscom with a fine of 71,818,517 Swiss francs (€65m), on 24/05/2016. "With its subsidiaries CT Cinetrade AG and Teleclub AG, the group holds a dominant position, in particular, in the field of live broadcasting on pay-TV of the matches of the Swiss football championship and also ice hockey, and has abused this position with regards to taking advantage of competing TV operators' platforms to hamper competition in this area," stated the Swiss Competition Authority.

"The fine was calculated on the basis of revenues that Swisscom has made in the market of hampered TV platforms, as well as the duration and gravity of unlawful conduct. As regards to the seriousness of the offence, the Competition Authority has taken into account the fact that it is Swisscom who made the original competition possible. The Competition Authority has found a violation of medium severity," added the regulator.

The Swiss broadcaster CT Cinetrade AG, 49% owned by Swisscom, holds the domestic broadcasting rights to the…