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ITV Confirms Talks to Sell Broadcasting and ITVX Unit to Sky for £1.6 Billion

ITV says the discussions are preliminary with no certainty that a transaction will follow.

Overview

  • The proposed transaction excludes ITV Studios, which has drawn separate interest from RedBird IMI and Banijay.
  • ITV disclosed temporary £35 million cost savings and forecast roughly a 9% decline in fourth-quarter advertising revenue.
  • Reporting from Sky News indicates the talks explore creating a UK-focused streaming player.
  • Comcast, Sky’s US parent, is understood to be involved through its ownership structure.
  • UK competition authorities are expected to scrutinize any formal proposal given the 2006 ruling over Sky’s former stake in ITV.