UK culture secretary 'minded to intervene' in Sky's £1.6bn deal for ITV channels

UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said she is "minded to intervene" in Sky's proposed £1.6bn deal to buy ITV's broadcasting and streaming business. The BBC, The Guardian and Reuters all reported her statement. Reuters put the value at about $2.1bn.

Sky is owned by the US company Comcast. The deal covers ITV's broadcast channels and its streaming service. It was announced in the summer of 2026. The BBC says it was announced in July.

If Nandy decides to intervene, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the media regulator Ofcom would open formal investigations into the deal. The public interest considerations she cited include free expression of opinion in news media and plurality of views in news media. They also include plurality of people controlling media companies and the availability of a wide range of broadcasting and programmes.

Sky and ITV have a short window to respond. The BBC gives the deadline as 20 October. The Guardian says the companies have five days.

Further reported details

According to the BBC, the deal does not include ITV Studios, which makes programmes such as Love Island. In the BBC's account of Nandy's letter, Sky News and ITV News together hold a 26% share of linear TV news viewing. The BBC also reported Nandy's view that the BBC and Sky/ITV together control 86% of that market. The letter also noted that viewers would still have other news sources, such as the BBC and Channel 4, according to the BBC.

The BBC reports that Nandy would act under a new public interest consideration. This would need legislation, because current law does not cover the effect of mergers on streaming or on-demand programmes. The BBC quoted her as saying: "If I decide to intervene on the basis of this new public interest consideration, I will bring forward legislation... to extend the application of the public interest consideration relating to the availability of a wide range of broadcasting to on-demand programmes."

According to The Guardian, the deal would create the UK's biggest commercial broadcaster. The newspaper reports that few in the TV industry believe it will be blocked. It also notes that Nandy previously threatened to intervene in Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, because the UK's Channel 5 is owned by Paramount. She later approved that deal after securing concessions.

What each side says

According to the BBC, Nandy said there are reasonable grounds to believe the deal could affect free expression and the variety of Britain's news landscape. She said the tie-up could, over time, reduce the range of views available. Her letter argued that the North of England, UK nations other than England and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds could be particularly hard hit, the BBC reported.

Sky said it would consider the letter carefully and engage constructively. "We remain confident that bringing Sky and ITV's media and entertainment business together will create a stronger British media," Sky said, according to the BBC. It said it had committed to keeping ITV News and Sky News editorially distinct.

ITV said the letter was expected and that it would fully co-operate. A spokesperson said the deal would create "a UK player with the scale and resources to better compete with global streaming platforms", the BBC reported.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include comment from Comcast, the CMA or Ofcom.

Analysis

Nandy's statement is a preliminary step, not a decision. Several paths remain open. She could decide not to issue a formal intervention notice. She could intervene, triggering reviews by the CMA and Ofcom. Or the process could lead to negotiated commitments, as The Guardian reports happened with Channel 5 in the Paramount deal. Sky has already offered some commitments on ITV's identity and editorial independence. Her proposed use of a consideration covering on-demand programmes would also require new legislation. The reports do not describe its timetable, which may affect how quickly any review proceeds.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.