Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has formally intervened in Sky’s proposed £1.6 billion acquisition of ITV’s Media & Entertainment division, triggering a public interest investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Ofcom.
The regulators have been asked to examine the potential impact of the deal on media plurality, freedom of expression and the range of programming available to audiences across the UK. Nandy has also confirmed plans to introduce legislation extending existing public interest considerations to cover on-demand programmes, reflecting changing viewing habits.
The CMA will assess competition and jurisdictional matters, while Ofcom will investigate the media public interest concerns. Both regulators must report back to the Culture Secretary by 27 January 2027. Nandy will then decide whether the transaction should face a further, in-depth investigation by the CMA.
The proposed acquisition, announced in July, would see Sky take control of ITV’s broadcast channels and streaming service ITVX. ITV Studios, the broadcaster’s production business, is excluded from the deal and will remain independent.
The intervention represents a significant regulatory step for the proposed merger, highlighting growing scrutiny of media ownership, competition and the role of streaming platforms in the UK broadcasting landscape.
