UK Orders Review of Sky’s £1.6bn ITV Broadcasting Deal
Lisa Nandy has asked regulators to examine the proposed takeover, with findings due by 27 January before she decides on further scrutiny.
Key takeaways
- Lisa Nandy issued a public-interest notice on Sky’s proposed ITV broadcasting deal.
- The CMA and Ofcom must report their findings by 27 January.
- ITV Studios is excluded from the proposed acquisition.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has formally intervened in Sky’s proposed £1.6bn acquisition of ITV’s broadcasting business. She has asked the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Ofcom to examine the deal.
The regulators have until 27 January to report. Nandy will then decide whether to order a more detailed investigation. She had previously warned that the merger could affect freedom of expression and the range of views in British news.
Nandy also confirmed plans to extend media merger rules to streaming services. The change would bring on-demand platforms under considerations that currently apply to traditional broadcasting.
The proposed deal covers ITV’s Media and Entertainment division, including its TV channels and streaming platform ITVX. ITV Studios, the production business, is not part of the acquisition.
Sky and ITV say the deal would create a stronger British broadcaster able to compete with global streaming companies. They expect about £200m in annual savings, mainly from combining marketing and technology operations. Sky has also pledged to protect ITV’s free-to-air services and keep ITV News and Sky News editorially separate.
This article was produced with the help of AI technology. Based on reporting by the outlets listed above.
