Key facts
- Culture secretary Lisa Nandy issued the notice on Wednesday, opening a review by the CMA and Ofcom.
- The regulators must report to Nandy on media plurality and free speech by January 27, per the report.
- Nandy said she will bring forward new streaming legislation and may refer the deal for an in-depth CMA probe.
- Sky said commitments already made cover ITV's identity, public service broadcasting obligations and separate news editorial voices.
- ITV called the notice a milestone toward creating a UK champion able to compete with global streaming platforms.
UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice on November 4, 2026 over Sky's £1.6 billion purchase of ITV's media and entertainment arm, tasking the Competition and Markets Authority and Ofcom with examining the deal, according to a Sky News report.
The two regulators will report back to Nandy by January 27 on the impact on media plurality in the UK and on free speech. After receiving their reports, Nandy may refer the deal to the CMA for a further in-depth investigation.
Nandy had said in October 2026 that she was minded to intervene on public interest grounds. She said existing legislation covering a wide range of broadcasting should also apply to on-demand programs, a change she said would reflect modern viewing habits and her concerns about the merger. She also said she would bring forward new streaming legislation.
ITV struck the deal in July 2026 to sell its media and entertainment division to Sky. The sale includes ITV's terrestrial TV channels and the ITVX streaming service but excludes its production arm, ITV Studios.
A Sky spokesperson said the company noted the decision and looked forward to engaging constructively in the review, saying the combined business would be better equipped to compete with global streamers and that commitments had been made to protect ITV's identity, public service broadcasting obligations and the distinct editorial voices of Sky News and ITV News. An ITV spokesperson called the notice a major milestone in the regulatory review process toward creating a UK champion able to compete with global streaming platforms.