Nandy weighs intervention in Sky’s £1.6bn ITV deal

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she is minded to intervene in Sky’s proposed £1.6 billion purchase of ITV’s media and entertainment arm, citing concerns about media plurality and the range of programming available to audiences. She has not made a final decision on whether to intervene. The proposed transaction would give Sky control of ITV’s terrestrial television channels and streaming service ITVX. ITV Studios, the company’s production arm, would remain separate. ITV agreed to the sale in July. In a statement to Parliament on October 15, Nandy pointed to the public interest in free expression of opinion in news media and sufficient plurality of views. She also cited the availability across the United Kingdom of a wide range of broadcasting and on-demand programmes. Nandy said she was considering whether the deal could affect the range of high-quality and varied programming on on-demand platforms. She described that programming concern as a new public-interest consideration. If she decides to intervene on that basis, she said she would bring forward legislation to extend the relevant consideration to on-demand programmes.