Sky's proposed acquisition of ITV has been met with a significant intervention from the UK's Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, who has formally raised concerns on public interest grounds. This move could potentially lead to the deal being blocked.
In a statement to Parliament, Nandy announced the issuance of a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) under the Enterprise Act. This action stems from worries that the merger could impact free expression within the media and the diversity of Britain's news landscape. Nandy stated that these considerations warrant further investigation.
The deal, valued at £1.6 billion, would see Sky acquire ITV's terrestrial TV channels and its streaming service, ITVX. ITV had agreed to the sale in July following months of discussions. The transaction has been in progress since late 2025.
Following the PIIN, the proposed takeover will now be reviewed by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for competition-related issues and by the regulator Ofcom for public interest matters. Both bodies are expected to report their findings to Nandy by January 27, 2027. Nandy indicated that she would then decide whether to refer the matter for a more in-depth investigation by the CMA.
Nandy had previously expressed reservations about the deal, citing concerns about the breadth of news providers and the extent of Sky's potential control over media outlets. ITV is legally obligated to provide a free-to-air service until at least 2034 under its public service broadcasting license. However, future renegotiations or program decommissioning by Sky could alter this landscape, particularly as Sky may seek cost savings.
Recognizing potential gaps in existing legislation concerning the impact of mergers on streaming and on-demand services, Nandy confirmed her intention to introduce new legislation.