The UK’s Culture Secretary has asked Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to formally assess Sky’s £1.6 billion ($2.2 billion) acquisition of ITV. The move begins a new stage of scrutiny over the deal’s potential effects on media plurality and broadcasting in the UK.
Lisa Nandy has issued a Public Interest Intervention Notice and instructed both bodies to report back by January 27. She will then decide whether to refer the transaction to the CMA for a more detailed investigation. Nandy is also due to report to Parliament early next year.
The review will consider concerns including freedom of expression in news media, the range of viewpoints available in each market, and the availability of a broad selection of broadcast and on-demand programming across the UK.
Nandy also said she will bring forward legislation to update the rules on programme availability to include streaming. She had previously said that change was under consideration.
Last month, Nandy said she was “minded to intervene” in the Sky-ITV deal. The transaction, announced late last year, would bring together Sky, the UK pay-TV company, and ITV, the country’s oldest commercial broadcaster. ITV Studios is not part of the merged entity.
Sources: Deadline.