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Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy intervenes in Sky's £1.6bn takeover of ITV as regulators are ordered to probe 'free speech' fears

Sky CEO Dana Strong called the deal a defining moment for British media, though regulators have until 27 January 2027 to report back before Lisa Nandy decides whether to push for a full CMA investigation.
Sky CEO Dana Strong called the deal a defining moment for British media, though regulators have until 27 January 2027 to report back before Lisa Nandy decides whether to push for a full CMA investigation.

Lisa Nandy issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice under the Enterprise Act 2002 on Wednesday, formally ordering Ofcom to examine plurality and free expression concerns while the Competition and Markets Authority scrutinises competition issues. The regulators have until 27 January 2027 to report back before Nandy decides whether to push for a full CMA investigation.

Sky's £1.6bn July deal to acquire ITV's terrestrial channels and streaming service ITVX would bring together Britain's largest pay-TV operator and its biggest commercial free-to-air broadcaster.

Sky CEO Dana Strong called the deal 'a defining moment for British media,' though Nandy cautioned that the merger could reduce the diversity of news providers and hand Sky disproportionate market power.

Nandy confirmed she will also bring forward new legislation, saying existing laws fail to cover the merger's impact on streaming platforms.

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