UK government says it is minded to intervene in Sky-ITV deal
British culture minister Lisa Nandy said she was minded to intervene in Comcast's £1.6 billion ($2.1 billion) deal for ITV's broadcast channels and streaming service, citing potential concerns about news diversity, Sky's media control and programme availability.
1. Potential grounds for intervention
Nandy said she had potential concerns about the deal's impact on the breadth of news providers in Britain and the extent of Sky's control over the media. She would also examine whether it could reduce the availability of high-quality programmes appealing to a wide variety of tastes and interests.
2. Review timeline
The review would cover on-demand as well as broadcast content, and Nandy said the grounds for intervention would need amending to reflect new viewing habits. Sky agreed in July to buy ITV's broadcast business, which includes national news provided by ITN and regional news shows; the companies have until October 20 to respond.
