Sky's ITV takeover: what it means for your favourite shows

One of the biggest takeovers in British media history is about to take place, with Sky expected to buy ITV's TV and streaming channels imminently. The pay-TV, broadband and mobile company, owned by American giant Comcast, has been in talks to acquire ITV's media and entertainment business including ITVX since last year. The deal would create a new British media company – albeit American owned – and give Sky access to millions of viewers, as well as scale and prominence on a free-to-air platform. Crucially, though, your favourite ITV shows are not about to disappear behind a paywall. Caroline Frost, TV and podcast editor at Radio Times, says ITV is required by law to provide a free-to-air service until at least 2034 due to its public service broadcasting licence. “Gradually, though, content which might debut on free/live-to-air ITV might end up on a subscription platform,” Frost says. In the short to medium term, the big shows – Coronation Street, Love Island, Emmerdale, I'm a Celebrity – won't look any different. You'll still find them on ITV and ITVX, and they'll still be made by ITV Studios, the production arm that owns more than 60 production companies in Britain and around the world. ITV Studios also makes programmes for other broadcasters, including Line of Duty for the BBC, Rivals for Disney Plus, and America's most streamed show, Love Island USA. ITV Studios is not being bought by Sky. If the deal goes ahead, it will become a company in its own right, ITV Studios PLC, still owned by current ITV shareholders. Part of the Sky takeover agreement is expected to be a “supply deal” ensuring ITV Studios continues to make those ITV shows and that they remain on ITV. Of course, at some point Sky could decommission some ITV shows or renegotiate their contracts. As one industry insider put it, you don't take over another company without believing there are savings to be made. Some are pointing to synergies on the tech platform side, with ITVX and Sky's streaming services potentially merged in the future. For now, viewers can breathe easy – but the longer-term picture may look very different.