Sky-ITV: UK Culture Secretary “Minded To Intervene” Over $2.1B Merger

The UK culture secretary is “minded to intervene” on the £1.6B Sky–ITV deal.

Lisa Nandy is intervening over “public interest considerations” as she cites “the need for free expression of opinion in news media,” “The need for aa sufficient plurality of views in news media in each market” and “The need for the availability throughout the United Kingdom of a wide range of broadcasting, on-demand programmes or both.”

Notably, Nandy is also considering bringing forward legislation that would update the latter to include streaming. She said this legislation “was drafted at a time where viewing was largely via broadcast linear channels.”

“Consequently, if I decide to intervene on the basis of this new public interest consideration, I will bring forward legislation which amends section 58 of the Act to extend the application of the public interest consideration relating to the availability of a wide range of broadcasting to on-demand programmes,” she wrote today.

The merger shocked the world of broadcasting when it was announced late last year and will bring together the UK’s pay-TV giant and oldest commercial broadcaster.