Comcast-owned pay-TV group Sky has agreed to buy the ITV network and streaming business — though not the production arm, ITV Studios — for a total consideration of £1.6bn ($2.1bn), marking Sky's first move into ownership of a British public service broadcaster. The deal matters because it would place two of the UK's public service broadcasters under Hollywood control (Paramount already owns 5), raising questions over regulation, executive structures, potential job cuts and the future of a standalone ITV Studios. Sky, led by American executive Dana Strong, is reportedly already planning to move titles such as SNL UK and The Day of the Jackal onto ITV's main network.

Talks had been under way since late last year, and ITV chief executive Carolyn McCall warned that an antitrust investigation could mean a wait of up to 18 months for completion, although some observers expect swifter approval. Days later, production giants Banijay and All3Media completed their separate $8bn merger, creating what new chairman Jeff Zucker called the "largest independent media content company by catalog," with roughly 170 production companies and 265,000 hours of content. The newsletter also covered Sopranos creator David Chase discussing his new HBO project, Project: MKUltra, at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, and highlighted Fadia, an award-winning miniseries from Palestinian-Israeli director Shady Srour.