U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has ordered a formal public interest investigation into Sky’s proposed £1.6 billion acquisition of ITV’s Media & Entertainment business.
Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will examine the potential impact on media plurality, competition and the diversity of news and programming.
The move opens the way for further scrutiny of the deal before a final decision and both regulators must report their findings by January 27, 2027.
Critics have expressed concerns about the merged entity’s market power, which will bring together the U.K.’s largest pay-TV operator with its largest commercial free-to-air broadcaster.
The deal includes ITV’s free-to-air television channels and streaming platform ITVX, while its production division, ITV Studios, would remain a separate business.
Leave A Comment