On 3 November 2026, U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has officially issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) to block or review Sky’s <$2.1 billion (£1.6 billion) takeover of ITV’s media and entertainment arm.
- citing concerns over news plurality, free expression of opinion, and the availability of a wide range of broadcasting and on-demand programming;
- Sky has stated the acquisition is meant to build a U.S. streaming competitor, keep ITV channels free-to-air, and maintain separate editorial voices for Sky News and ITV News;
- the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will investigate competition issues, while media regulator Ofcom will review public interest considerations;
- both regulators have a reporting deadline of January 27, 2027, after which the Culture Secretary may refer the transaction for a deeper phase-2 investigation.