Sky owner announces £1.6bn takeover of ITV’s broadcasting arm

US telecom giant Comcast to snap up free-to-air TV channels and streaming platform to create UK's biggest commercial broadcaster

Sky has announced a long awaited 1.6bn deal to buy ITV's broadcasting and streaming arm to create the UK's biggest commercial broadcaster.

Sky, which is owned by the US telecoms company Comcast, will pay 1.2bn in cash initially for ITV's media and entertainment business, which include its free-to-air TV channels in the UK and ITVX streaming platform. It has agreed to pay a further up to 200m in the second half of 2028, depending on 2027 advertising revenues.