ITV faces regulatory probes over £1.6bn Sky deal

ITV is set to report its latest quarterly trading figures next Wednesday amid investigations into its proposed £1.6 billion sale of its media and entertainment arm to Sky. The deal, struck in July, involves the sale of terrestrial TV channels and the ITVX streaming service, though ITV Studios will remain separate.

UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has formally intervened due to public interest concerns, triggering investigations by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Ofcom. Regulators have until January 27 to report on the potential impact of the merger on media plurality and free speech in the UK.

In response to the deal, Ms. Nandy intends to introduce new streaming legislation to ensure public interest tests apply to on-demand programming. Analysts suggest the intervention could delay or potentially block the transaction, which was intended to shift ITV’s strategy toward TV production and reduce its reliance on advertising revenue.