Nandy 'minded to intervene' in Sky's £1.6bn takeover of ITV entertainment arm
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is considering an intervention into Sky's proposed £1.6bn acquisition of ITV's entertainment division. The government is concerned that the merger could negatively impact media plurality and free expression in the UK.
Why it matters
This regulatory scrutiny highlights the tension between corporate consolidation and the preservation of diverse news and media landscapes.
Image source, Getty Images By Archie Mitchell Business reporter Published 15 October 2026 Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said she is "minded to intervene" in the proposed £1.6bn deal for Sky to buy ITV's media and entertainment division.
Nandy said there were reasonable grounds to believe the deal could affect free expression in the media and the variety of Britain's news landscape.
Sky said it would "carefully consider" a letter from the culture secretary and "engage constructively" with the review into the deal.
"We remain confident that bringing Sky and ITV's media and entertainment business together will create a stronger British media," it said.
ITV welcomed the letter and said the deal would help it "compete with global streaming platforms, benefiting viewers, advertisers and the UK creative industries".
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