Sky’s deal to by ITV’s broadcasting arm shakes up UK TV

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ITV has agreed to sell its broadcasting and streaming divisions to Sky, creating the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster. The deal is worth up to £1.6bn and will effectively turn ITV into a production company. It includes ITV’s regional news operations and ITVX, the station’s streaming service, but does not cover ITV Studios, the maker of I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, Love Island and Coronation Street. ITV has been struggling for years due to declining live TV audiences. For Sky, the deal will significantly expand its market share and help it compete with streamers, while granting it control of about 70% of traditional TV advertising. It has promised not to put ITV programmes behind a paywall until at least 2034 and to make some sport free-to-air.