Sky-ITV: UK Competition Bodies Given Greenlight To Investigate $2B Deal By Culture Secretary

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has asked Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to formally examine Sky’s proposed £1.6 billion acquisition of ITV. The move begins a public-interest review of the deal’s potential effects on media plurality, free expression and the range of programmes available across the UK.

The two bodies must report by 27 January, after which Nandy will decide whether to refer the acquisition for a fuller CMA investigation and report to Parliament early next year. She also plans legislation to extend broadcasting rules on programme availability to include streaming. ITV Studios is excluded from the deal; Sky is owned by Comcast, which plans to spin it out under NBCUniversal.