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Notice

Public Interest Intervention Notice issued by Secretary of State Lisa Nandy

Published 4 November 2026

© Crown copyright 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-interest-intervention-notice-issued-by-secretary-of-state-lisa-nandy--2/public-interest-intervention-notice-issued-by-secretary-of-state-lisa-nandy

INTERVENTION NOTICE

GIVEN PURSUANT TO SECTION 42 OF THE ENTERPRISE ACT 2002

ANTICIPATED ACQUISITION OF ITV M&E HOLDINGS LIMITED BY SKY UK LIMITED

Whereas the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds for suspecting that, as a result of the proposed acquisition of ITV M&E Holdings Limited by Sky UK Limited, it is or may be the case that arrangements are in progress which, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation as defined in section 23 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (“the Act”), in that:

  • two or more enterprises will cease to be distinct; and
  • the value of the turnover in the United Kingdom of the enterprise being taken over exceeds £100 million.

Whereas no reference of the merger has been made under section 33 of the Act, nor has any decision been made not to make such reference, nor is any reference prevented from being made under section 33(3)(za) or (a) of the Act.

Whereas the Secretary of State believes that it is or may be the case that public interest considerations are relevant to a consideration of the relevant merger situation.

The Secretary of State believes that it is or may be the case that:

  • the need for free expression of opinion in news media, being a public interest consideration specified in section 58(2A)(b) of the Act;
  • the need for, to the extent that it is reasonable and practicable, a sufficient plurality of views in news media in each market for news media in the United Kingdom or a part of the United Kingdom, being a public interest consideration specified in section 58(2B) of the Act;
  • the need, in relation to every different audience in the United Kingdom or in a particular area or locality of the United Kingdom, for there to be a sufficient plurality of persons with control of the media enterprises serving that audience, being a public interest consideration specified in section 58(2C)(a) of the Act; and
  • the need for the availability throughout the United Kingdom of a wide range of:
    • broadcasting; and
    • on-demand programmes;

which (in each case, taken as a whole) is of high quality and calculated to appeal to a wide variety of tastes and interests, being a public interest consideration which, at the time of the giving of this intervention notice, is not specified in section 58 but, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, ought to be so specified,

are relevant to a consideration of the relevant merger situation.

Now, therefore, the Secretary of State in exercise of her powers under section 42(2) of the Act gives this intervention notice.

Under and in accordance with sections 44 and 44A of the Act, the Competition and Markets Authority and Ofcom respectively are required to investigate and report by 5.00pm on 27 January 2027.

Signed

Director, Media and International

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

4 November 2026

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