Comcast Considers £1.6bn Takeover of ITV Broadcasting Arm Amid Concerns Over Public Service Broadcasting
Comcast is considering a takeover of ITV's broadcasting arm and streaming service for around £1.6bn, which would end ITV's 70-year independence. If completed, Comcast would own Sky News and ITV News, holding a 40% stake in ITN, potentially influencing news output across ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5.
Comcast had previously guaranteed funding for Sky News for a decade, though concerns remain over the long-term financing beyond that period. Sky's Dana Strong affirmed Sky would support news output regardless of ongoing Comcast backing. Any deal would likely include commitments to maintain Ofcom's public service licence conditions; ITV's licence extends to 2034, and ITN's five-year news-output deal, effective until May 2025, helps preserve the current status quo.
Regulatory oversight is expected from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) due to concerns that a Sky-ITV combination could control an estimated 70–73% share of UK TV advertising, potentially marginalizing Channel 4. Ofcom has warned that public service broadcasters could become endangered as audiences increasingly shift to US platforms. YouTube has overtaken ITV as the UK's second-most-watched service, with YouTube and Netflix being among the top destinations for viewers aged 4–15.
Some industry commentators argue for safeguarding UK mass media from US control, advocating for greater collaboration among public service broadcasters and potential adjustments to the regulatory framework. Channel 4's newly appointed chief executive, Priya Dogra—formerly Sky's advertising chief—is regarded as a pivotal figure in efforts to block Comcast's takeover of ITV, aiming to protect Channel 4's interests.
