Observed Signal · Jun 25, 2026 · M&A · Source: DWDL · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Sky reportedly agrees to buy ITV's TV and streaming
According to a Reuters report republished by DWDL.de, Sky — the Comcast-owned broadcaster — has reportedly agreed terms with ITV to acquire ITV's streaming and broadcast business, combining Sky's pay-TV operations with ITV's free‑to‑air channels and ITVX streaming platform. The deal is said to be worth £1.6 billion (about €1.9 billion) for the streaming and channels; ITV Studios (the production arm) would remain independent and is expected to acquire Love Productions (previously majority‑owned by Sky) for an additional £80–120 million plus an earn‑out. The companies have not officially confirmed the report; sources told Reuters the deal could be announced within the next two weeks. Regulators will likely scrutinize the transaction because Sky and ITV would together account for more than 70% of the UK TV advertising market.
A possible acquisition would combine pay-TV, free‑to‑air channels and a major streaming platform, creating a dominant supplier for UK TV advertising (over 70% share) and triggering significant regulatory and market impacts for media buyers, advertisers and ad inventory dynamics.
Track Sky Signals & Market Shifts in Real-Time
Polaris7 autonomous intelligence agents track regulatory filings, primary sources, executive changes, and deal flow 24/7. Create your free Explorer workspace to monitor these entities.
Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Sky (a Comcast subsidiary) has reportedly agreed with ITV to acquire ITV's streaming and broadcast business, according to Reuters.
- Sky is reported to be offering £1.6 billion (approximately €1.9 billion) for ITV's streaming and broadcast operations.
- ITV Studios would remain independent and is reported to acquire Love Productions (previously majority-owned by Sky) for £80–120 million plus an earn-out.
- Sky and ITV combined would account for more than 70% of the total UK TV advertising market.
- The Reuters report cites two people familiar with the negotiations; the companies have not yet officially confirmed the deal and it could be announced within the next two weeks.
Connected Companies & Entities
9 Entities mapped“Sky, the Comcast-owned broadcaster, is reported to have agreed with ITV to acquire ITV's streaming and broadcast business after about seven ...”
“ITV — whose free-TV channels and streaming platform ITVX are the assets in question — would be combined with Sky's operations under the repo...”
“Comcast is referenced as Sky's parent company ('the Comcast-owned Sky') in the article describing Sky's reported acquisition interest and of...”
“Reuters is cited as the original source of the reporting, relying on two people familiar with the negotiations....”
“ITV Studios, ITV's production arm, would reportedly remain independent and — as part of the transaction — is said to take over the productio...”
“Reuters is cited as the original source of the reporting, relying on two people familiar with the negotiations....”
“DWDL.de republished the Reuters report; the article is authored by Uwe Mantel and dated 25 June 2026....”
“ProSiebenSat.1 is mentioned as a longstanding strong competitor in the German free-TV market in the article's comparison between UK and Germ...”
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Sky (Comcast) Announces Acquisition of ITV
Sky, the Comcast-owned broadcaster, has officially announced the acquisition of ITV Media & Entertainment in the UK in a deal valuing ITV M&E at up to £1.6 billion (≈€1.87bn). Sky will pay £1.2bn in cash and a £0.2bn earn‑out tied to business performance; the remaining valuation gap will be closed by selling Love Productions (majority‑owned by Sky) to ITV Studios. Sky also pledged a £2.1bn, five‑year production deal with ITV Studios upon closing. Sky says the merger will make it the leading free‑to‑air provider in the UK and strengthen its streaming business; the combined entity would hold roughly 20% of domestic TV usage and Sky and ITV together account for over 70% of UK TV advertising. The announcement highlights potential UK competition scrutiny and includes commitments to preserve editorial independence and ITV’s public‑service obligations until 2034.
Sky to Buy ITV's Media Division for £1.6bn
Sky has agreed to acquire ITV's Media & Entertainment division in a deal valued at £1.6 billion (reported as more than €1.8 billion). The purchase includes the streaming service ITVX and ITV's free‑to‑air channels but excludes ITV's production arm; newsrooms are to remain editorially independent. Sky has also committed to a five‑year supply agreement worth £2.1 billion. The transaction is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval. Sky says the move aims to create a leading British streaming challenger to global platforms such as Netflix while maintaining ITV’s public‑service obligations and free availability for the channels and ITVX.
Sky-Comcast to Acquire ITV; Advertisers Seek Clarity
Sky’s planned acquisition of ITV — combining Comcast’s U.K. assets with ITV’s broadcast business and ITVX — will create a combined media business reaching tens of millions of viewers and controlling a substantial share of U.K. TV ad revenue. Advertisers and agencies have so far received few concrete details about pricing, targeting, ad-sales integration or measurement. Industry bodies (ISBA, the IPA) and agencies called for protections and clarity; the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority will review the deal amid a politically active regulator. Analysts expect scale and more addressable options for advertisers but are uncertain about pricing or how ad teams, technology and streaming services will be merged.
Track Real-Time Market Signals & Shifts
Set up custom watchlists to receive automated, evidence-grounded executive digests whenever material signals or shifts occur across your tracked landscape.