Nandy Weighs Intervention in Sky's £1.6bn ITV Takeover

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said on October 15, 2026, that she is "minded to intervene" in Sky's proposed £1.6bn purchase of ITV's media and entertainment division, according to the BBC. The move could force a formal regulatory investigation before the deal can close.

What has Nandy told Sky and ITV?

In a letter to both companies, Nandy said there were reasonable grounds to believe the tie-up could affect free expression and the variety of Britain's broadcast landscape. She is considering a public interest intervention notice (PIIN) that would send the deal to the Competition and Markets Authority and Ofcom for a full review, the BBC reported. Sky and ITV have until October 20 to respond.

Why does the deal raise public interest concerns?

The letter cited four statutory grounds: the need for free expression of opinion in broadcast media, a range of views, a range of people controlling outlets, and a wide range of programming across the UK. Nandy's office argued that even though viewers would retain access to the BBC and Channel 4, the combined reach of Sky News and ITV News could narrow ownership diversity over time, with effects falling hardest on the North of England, non-England nations, and lower-income households that rely more heavily on broadcast rather than streamed news.

What are the key figures in the review?

• £1.6bn — the value of Sky's agreed purchase of ITV's broadcasting arm, including its free-to-air channels and ITVX streaming service, announced in July.
• 26% — the combined share of linear TV viewing that Sky News and ITV News hold, per the letter cited by the BBC.
• 86% — the share of the linear TV news market that would sit with the BBC and a combined Sky/ITV, according to the same letter.
• October 20 — the deadline Nandy set for Sky and ITV to respond before she decides on a formal intervention notice.

How are Sky and ITV responding?

Sky said it would "carefully consider" the letter and "engage constructively" with any review, adding: "We remain confident that bringing Sky and ITV's media and entertainment business together will create a stronger British media." A Sky spokesperson said the company has "already made clear commitments to protect ITV's identity, its free-to-air services and public service broadcasting obligations." ITV welcomed the letter, calling it "another important milestone in the regulatory review process," and said the deal would help it "compete with global streaming platforms, benefiting viewers, advertisers and the UK creative industries."

What happens next?

• Sky and ITV file their responses to Nandy's letter by October 20.
• Nandy decides whether to issue a formal public interest intervention notice.
• If issued, the CMA and Ofcom open a joint investigation into market impact and plurality.
• The deal excludes ITV Studios, the production unit behind programs such as Love Island, so that business is not part of this review.

The deal, first announced in July, would hand Sky access to millions more ITV viewers while both companies pursue scale against streaming rivals such as Netflix, the BBC noted.